7 Reasons Why GPs Will Make Great Commissioners

‘The most brilliant idea, with no execution, is worth $20.  The most brilliant idea takes great execution to be worth $20,000,000’.  Derek Sivers, President, CD Baby

 I often find myself drawn to the books of entrepreneurs (check out Derek Sivers book - Anything You Want), and a consistent theme is that ideas are easy, but execution of ideas is what really counts.  Putting GPs in charge of commissioning is, in my view, a brilliant idea.  On its own it’s worth $20.  Many people believe that this idea is not possible to execute.  But, if we can, it will mean far more than any amount of money to those patients whose lives it could touch.

So what is so great about the idea of putting GPs in charge of commissioning?  Why might clinical commissioning groups be different and far more effective than PCTs? Understanding this is important, because it is the first step to making it a reality.  There are at least seven areas where GPs can make a big difference:

1.       GPs can use their experience of what their patients need to ensure that money is spent on those areas that will deliver the greatest benefit to patients

2.       GPs can use their experience and the experiences of their patients to identify where duplication, errors and all forms of waste occur in the system, and use commissioning as a lever to drive this out

3.       GPs leading commissioning can work with clinical colleagues in hospitals and community care and put clinical care as a priority over individual organisational interests

4.       GPs can form a real partnership with their patients to give patients a much more effective voice in the design and delivery of care

5.       GPs can commission pathways of care that integrate services around the needs of patients, rather than contract with organisations who are then left to deliver care in isolation without any join up between them

6.       GPs will drive the need for high quality information to underpin all aspects of commissioning, an area that has historically been very weak.  Better quality information will make for better quality decisions, with better quality outcomes for patients.

7.       GPs will use evidence to drive the commissioning decisions they make.  The use of evidence was historically left to Public Health departments, but in CCGs it will drive decision making across the organisation.

But overall I think there is too much talk about whether GP commissioning is a good idea or not.  What there is not enough focus on is the detail of how we are going to turn this idea into something that creates real value for the populations we serve.