A NEW GP-led consortium has been given the green light to manage the Isle of Wight’s £193m NHS budget.
The Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (IWCCG) will be responsible for buying hospital, community and mental health services, from April.
It is made up of around 60 GPs, primary care staff and managers and was founded in the wake of sweeping government reforms of the NHS, which included the abolition of primary care trusts.
The IWCCG has been authorised by the national NHS Commissioning Board to take control of the Island health budget after site visits, interviews with managers and assessments.
It has met all 119 authorisation criteria and demonstrated it can improve the quality of health services for Island residents.
It was one of only a handful of CCG’s nationally to be authorised by the board without any conditions.
IWCCG chairman, Dr John Rivers, said: "It is a great credit to the enthusiasm and hard work of my colleagues we have been authorised to take on full commissioning responsibilities.
"For the CCG to succeed in the huge challenges it now faces, it is vital we continue to work closely with everyone involved in the delivery and planning of health and social care on the Island."
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk