NHS Commissioning Board starts work

The NHS Commissioning Board has officially started work in shadow form.

Due to become a statutory organisation from April next year, the body lies at the heart of the government's NHS reforms and will be responsible for overseeing the new GP-led commissioning groups.

According to the Department for Health, the NHS Commissioning Board is set to operate as an independent body from October 2012.

It will not take on full legal responsibility for managing the NHS commissioning system until April 2013, subject to the successful passage of the health and social care bill through parliament.

Sir David Nicholson, chief executive of the NHS, summarised the role of the board as: "Using the £80 billion commissioning budget to secure the best possible outcomes for NHS patients."

Professor Chris Ham, head of healthcare thinktank The King's Fund, said Mr Nicholson and the board will maintain "a strong central grip" during the transition to the new commissioning system.

He told BBC News: "They will need to manage the very real risks that finances might get out of control and waiting times might get longer."