MPs criticise NHS commissioning in new report

A new government report has criticised the way in which NHS primary care trusts (PCTs) commission services across the health sector.

The Commons health committee report states that PCT commissioning has repeatedly failed to be a cost-effective and efficient system.

Commissioning has lead to an increase in transaction costs within the NHS, most notably management and administration costs which, according to unpublished Department of Health figures, amount to 14 per cent of the total NHS budget.

The report also suggested that PCTs are too passive and lack the clinical knowledge and other skills to challenge hospitals over the provision of services.

It added: “We were appalled that four of the most senior civil servants in the Department of Health were unable to give us accurate figures for staffing levels and costs dedicated to commissioning and billing.”

Kevin Barron, Labour MP for Rother Valley and committee chair, described the current state of the PCT system as a “sorry story” and called on the government to address the problems or consider calling time on the initiative.