Residents of Lancashire and South Cumbria encouraged to have their say on Clinical Commissioning Group policies

The eight Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Lancashire and South Cumbria are working in partnership to review clinical policies across the region.

NHS England has recently introduced mandatory guidance for a range of surgical procedures which CCGs are expected to adopt as clinical policies. Where clinical policies already exist, the CCGs need to align them with the new guidance. Seven existing policies held by the CCGs in the Lancashire and South Cumbria area need to be amended to align with the NHS England guidance. The patient access criteria for these procedures have already been consulted upon nationally and cannot now be amended.

The CCGs across Lancashire and South Cumbria wish to inform patients and members of the public about these amended policies and to invite them to consider if the introduction of these policies will have an adverse effect on patients or groups of patients. If this is the case, there may be something the CCGs can do to minimise the impact of this.

Local people are therefore, invited to read the amended policies and provide their feedback and comments by completing the relevant surveys. Click here to read the clinical policies and complete the online surveys.

Andy Curran, Executive Medical Director at Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System said: “Each CCG is responsible for commissioning a wide range of clinical services, including secondary (hospital), community and mental health services and for paying for those services, for and on behalf of, the local population. In some areas this also includes commissioning GP services.

“CCGs must take account of the latest guidance when formulating their commissioning polices. In this instance NHS England has issued the latest guidance on these procedures. We need to ensure they are introduced in an open, fair and transparent manner.

“A key role for the CCGs is to inform residents of these changes and to give them an opportunity to raise any concerns. 

“I would encourage local people with an interest in these policies to visit the Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria website and have their say.”