Patients ‘benefiting from changes to NHS commissioning’

The government has claimed that the introduction of new models of clinical commissioning for the NHS is already leading to better patient care quality.

According to new Department of Heath figures, the first year of redesigned services led by emerging clinical commissioning groups is helping to drive declines in hospital admissions and average stays in areas such as Newcastle, Wigan and Bedfordshire.

2011 marked the first year-on-year decline in emergency admissions for a decade, which the government attributed to the growing role played by GPs in governing service provision.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Patients are being treated in more convenient places, pressure on hospitals is reducing and we are safeguarding the NHS for future generations."

This comes in the same week that the government held a roundtable discussion over its planned NHS reforms with leading healthcare sector representatives.

However, it has come under criticism for failing to invite prominent bodies such as the British Medical Association and Royal College of General Practitioners, which have voiced their opposition to the planned legislation.