Commissioning can't be left to GPs alone, say hospital consultants

Senior hospital clinicians have criticised the white paper for overlooking the role of the acute sector in the commissioning of services for patients.

The Health Service Journal reports Jonathan Waxman, professor of oncology at Hammersmith Hospital, as saying that commissioning services should not be left to GP consortia alone, as they 'do not represent the whole of the health service'.

Prof Waxman adds: 'The NHS is a joined up health service and there should be input from hospital consultants and all the people involved in [the commissioning] of healthcare.'

He also tells HSJ that not all GP consortia would possess the skills necessary to effectively commission services for patients.