Section 25 – Clinical commissioning groups: establishment etc.
256.Establishment of clinical commissioning groups. This section inserts Chapter A2 into Part 2 of the NHS Act, which makes further provision about CCGs. New sections 14A to 14O of the NHS Act make provision about the establishment of CCGs.
257.General duties of Board in relation to clinical commissioning groups. New section 14A sets out the general duties of the NHS Commissioning Board in relation to CCGs. Subsection (1) requires the Board to ensure that, at any time after the date specified by an order of the Secretary of State, all providers of primary medical services (for instance GP practices) in England are members of a CCG.
258.Subsection (2) requires the NHS Commissioning Board also to ensure that, from the date so specified by the Secretary of State, the areas specified in each CCG’s constitution taken together cover the whole of England and do not coincide or overlap. This will ensure, for instance, that there is no ambiguity as to which CCG is responsible for a person that is not registered with a GP practice or who needs access to emergency healthcare.
259.Subsection (3) specifies that a provider of primary medical services for the purposes of this Chapter is a person who is a party to a contract or arrangement that is described in subsection (4), in other words, a person or organisation that holds a General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a Personal Medical Services (PMS) agreement or an Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contract to provide primary medical services of a type set out in regulations – it is intended that these regulations will prescribe essential primary medical services to registered patients in core hours. Together, these subsections have the effect that all GP practices that hold an NHS contract must be members of a CCG. Where two or more individuals practise as GPs in partnership, it is the partnership that is treated as a single provider of primary medical services, not the individuals in that partnership (subsection (6)). Similarly, where two or more individuals are parties to an arrangement in subsection (4) but are not a partnership they are to be treated as one person for these purposes (subsection (7)).
260.Applications for the establishment of clinical commissioning groups. New section 14B makes provision for applications to be established as a CCG to be made to the NHS Commissioning Board (subsection (1)). Under subsection (2), an application may be made by two or more persons, provided that each of them is either a provider of primary medical services (a GP contract holder) or wishes to be so and they wish to be a member of the proposed CCG. Under subsection (3), applications must include a copy of the CCG’s proposed constitution, the name of the person whom the CCG wishes the NHS Commissioning Board to appoint as its accountable officer and such other information that the NHS Commissioning Board may specify. Any specification made by the Board for these purposes must be published in a document. Subsection (4) provides for persons to become applicants or withdraw from being applicants at any time before the application is decided by the NHS Commissioning Board. Subsection (5) provides that, with the agreement of the NHS Commissioning Board, applicants can modify the proposed constitution at any time before the application is determined. Subsection (6) introduces Part 1 of Schedule 1A (inserted by Schedule 2 to the Act), which makes provision about the constitution of a CCG.
261.Determination of applications. New section 14C provides for the determination of applications by the NHS Commissioning Board. The NHS Commissioning Board must, under subsection (1), grant an application for the establishment of a CCG if it is satisfied of the matters covered in subsection (2). These matters are:
that the constitution complies with the requirements set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1A: for example that it sets out the name (which must meet requirements to be set out in regulations), members and area of the constitution, that it specifies the arrangements the CCG has put in place for the discharge of its functions, and the procedures for decision making, discharging its duties in relation to conflicts of interest and ensuring effective participation by members; and that it is otherwise appropriate;
that each member of a CCG will be a provider of primary medical services (i.e. that they will be a GP practice) on the date of establishment of the CCG;
that the area of the CCG is appropriate;
that the NHS Commissioning Board considers it appropriate to appoint as the CCG’s accountable officer the person proposed by the applicants;
that the applicants have made appropriate arrangements to discharge the CCG’s functions; and
that the applicants have made appropriate arrangements to ensure that the CCG will have a governing body that meets the requirements of the Act.
262.Regulations under subsection (2)(g) may set out other matters that the NHS Commissioning Board has to be satisfied about. Regulations under subsection (3) may set out factors that the Board must or may take into account when determining an application for establishment. Regulations under this subsection may also make provision about the procedure for the making and determination of applications.
263.Effect of grant of application. New section 14D provides for the establishment of a CCG upon the grant of an application (under section 14C). The grant of an application for establishment has the effect that the CCG is established as a statutory body and the CCG’s proposed constitution then has effect. This section also introduces Part 2 of Schedule 1A, which makes further provision about CCGs.
264.Variation of constitution. New sections 14E and 14F make provision about the variation of a CCG’s constitution. Under section 14E, a CCG may apply to the NHS Commissioning Board for its constitution to be varied. Regulations may make provision about the procedure to be followed when applying for a variation; the circumstances in which the NHS Commissioning Board must or may grant, or must or may refuse, an application; and factors the NHS Commissioning Board must or may take into account when deciding whether to grant or refuse an application.
265.Section 14F gives the NHS Commissioning Board powers to vary a CCG’s constitution otherwise than on application by the CCG. The NHS Commissioning Board may change the area specified in a CCG’s constitution, and may add any provider of primary medical services to, or remove any provider from, a CCG’s list of members. Before exercising these powers, the NHS Commissioning Board must consult the CCG and any other CCGs that, in the Board’s view, might be affected by the proposed variation. The powers can only be exercised if the CCG whose constitution is to be varied agrees to the change, or if the NHS Commissioning Board considers that it is necessary to make the variation to discharge its duties under section 14A (that is, to ensure that every provider of primary medical services is a member of a CCG or to ensure that the areas specified in the constitutions of CCGs together cover the whole of England and do not coincide or overlap). Regulations may be made setting out further circumstances in which the NHS Commissioning Board may vary the constitution of a CCG, the circumstances in which those powers can be exercised and the procedure to be followed.
266.Mergers, dissolution etc. New sections 14G and 14H make provision about the merger and dissolution of CCGs. Section 14G allows CCGs to apply to the NHS Commissioning Board to merge, that is for those CCGs to be dissolved and for a new CCG to be established in their place. Any application under section 14G must include a copy of the proposed constitution of the new merged CCG, the name of the person whom the CCG wishes the NHS Commissioning Board to appoint as its accountable officer, and such other information that the NHS Commissioning Board may specify. Sections 14C and 14D, which make provision about the determination of applications and effect of grant of applications, also apply here.
267.Section 14H provides for a CCG to apply to the NHS Commissioning Board to be dissolved. Regulations under subsection (2) may make provision about the circumstances in which the NHS Commissioning Board must or may grant, or must or may refuse, applications under this section; the factors that the NHS Commissioning Board must or may take into account in determining whether to grant those applications; and the procedure for making and determining applications.
268.Transfers in connection with variation, merger, dissolution etc. Under section 14I, when variations, mergers or dissolutions take place, the NHS Commissioning Board may make a scheme providing for the transfer of property or staff, or any associated rights and liabilities, of the CCG to the NHS Commissioning Board or to another CCG. Section 14I also introduces Part 3 of Schedule 1A which makes further provision about transfer schemes.
269.Publication of constitution of clinical commissioning groups. Section 14J requires a CCG to publish its constitution. It also, under subsection (2), requires a CCG to publish a constitution if it is varied under 14E or 14F as it has been varied.
270.Guidance about the establishment of clinical commissioning groups etc. Under section 14K, the NHS Commissioning Board may publish guidance about how applications for establishment as a CCG should be made, including guidance as to the form, content and publication of the proposed constitutions and guidance on applications to vary, merge or dissolve a CCG). This would enable the NHS Commissioning Board, for instance, to issue guidance on how good governance principles might be reflected in a CCG’s constitution.
271.Governing bodies of clinical commissioning groups. Section 14L specifies that each CCG must have a governing body. The governing body will have the role of assuring that the CCG has made the appropriate arrangements to ensure that it complies with its duty to act with effectiveness, efficiency and economy (new section 14Q). It must also ensure that the CCG has appropriate arrangements in place to comply with generally accepted principles of good governance as are relevant to it. These are described in subsection (2) as the ‘main functions’ of the governing body.
272.Governing bodies also have the function, under subsection (3)(a), of determining the remuneration, fees and allowances payable to CCG employees and others providing services to it (such as self-employed IT consultants) and of determining the allowances payable under a pension scheme established by the CCG under paragraph 11(4) of Schedule 1A (under subsection (3)(b)). Regulations under subsection (6) may require governing bodies to publish specified information in relation to such determinations In addition, the NHS Commissioning Board may publish guidance (under subsection (7)) for governing bodies on the exercise of their functions in relation to pay and remuneration.
273.Subsection 3(c) allows the CCG constitution and regulations to confer further functions upon the governing body, provided that these are connected with the main functions of the governing body.
274.Subsection (4) specifies that only the following can be members of the governing body:
A CCG member who is an individual;
An individual, appointed by virtue of regulations made under 14N(2);
An individual, of a description set out in the CCG’s constitution.
275.Subsection (5) allows regulations to prescribe circumstances in which a CCG must obtain the approval of its governing body before the CCG exercises specified functions.
276.Audit and remuneration committees of governing bodies. Section 14M requires CCG governing bodies to have both an audit committee and a remuneration committee. The audit committee has such functions in relation to the financial duties of the CCG as the governing body considers appropriate. Its role is to assist the governing body in ensuring the CCG carries out its prescribed functions appropriately.
277.The remuneration committee has the function of making recommendations to the governing body about the determination of remuneration, fees and allowances payable to CCG employees and others providing services to it and determining the allowances payable under a pension scheme established by the CCG under paragraph 11(4) of Schedule 1A. Regulations and the CCG constitution can confer additional, functions on the audit and remuneration committees, provided that they are connected with the governing body’s main functions.
278.Regulations as to governing bodies of clinical commissioning groups. Section 14N provides a number of regulation-making powers. It is intended that regulations made under these powers will, without being overly prescriptive, set out some of the detail needed for the set-up of CCGs’ governing bodies and their statutory committees.
279.Regulations may:
specify the minimum number of members of governing bodies;
specify certain requirements as to membership of governing bodies and their statutory committees- for example that the governing body must include the CCG’s accountable officer and requirements as to membership of healthcare professionals of a prescribed description and lay persons;
make provision as to the qualification, appointment and tenure of members of governing bodies and their statutory committees;
make provision as to the qualification, appointment and tenure of chairs;
specify information to be included in constitutions (in relation to paragraph 7 of Schedule 1A (as set out in Schedule 2 to the Act) which concerns the decision making process; and
make such other provision about the procedure of governing bodies or their statutory committees as the Secretary of State deems appropriate, including as regards frequency of meetings.
280.Registers of interests and management of conflicts of interest. New section 14O subsection (1) requires a CCG to maintain one or more registers of the interests of members of the group, the members of the governing body, employees of the group, and members of committees and sub-committees of the group, and committees and sub-committees of the governing body. Sub-section (2) requires that the registers are published by the CCG or arrangements made by the CCG to ensure that they are available to the public on request.
281.Under subsection (3), each CCG must make arrangements to ensure that members of the group, the members of the governing body, employees of the group, and members of committees and sub-committees of the group and committees and sub-committees of the governing body declare any conflict of interest, or potential interest they may have in relation to a decision to be made by the group in the exercise of its commissioning functions,. The declaration must be made as soon as possible after the individual becomes aware of the potential conflict, and in any event within 28 days. The arrangements made by the CCG must ensure that the declaration so made is included in the appropriate register of interests.
282.Under subsection (4), the CCG must make arrangements for managing conflicts and potential conflicts of interest, so they do not influence the group’s decision making, or appear to do so.
283.Under subsection (5), the NHS Commissioning Board must issue guidance for CCGs on the discharge of their functions under this section.
284.Subsection (6) requires that CCGs have regard to this guidance.
285.This section also inserts new Schedule 1A (set out in Schedule 2 to the Act) into the NHS Act.
