Clinical commissioning group calls for NHS bill to be scrapped

A prominent clinical commissioning group (CCG) has become the first to publicly call for the abolition of the government's controversial Health and Social Care Bill.

The Tower Hamlets CCG, which is led by former British Medical Association (BMA) deputy chair Dr Sam Everington, has written to prime minister David Cameron expressing concerns that the bill will create unnecessary bureaucracy and damage care quality.

In a letter obtained by Pulse, Dr Everington stated that his organisation believes the benefits offered through increased clinical involvement in commissioning decisions can be achieved without the widespread reforms proposed by the coalition.

He added that Tower Hamlets CCG supports the concerns already expressed by organisations such as the BMA and the Royal College of GPs, both of which have asked for the bill to be dropped.

"Your government has interpreted our commitment to our patients as support for the bill. It is not," said Dr Everington.

The BMA has previously described the planned legislation as "deeply flawed, damaging and unnecessary", calling into question both its intent and the speed with which it will be introduced.