The 'added value' GPs bring to commissioning: a qualitative study in primary care

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy
• General Practice

Background:

• The 2012 Health and Social Care Act established Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England, replacing primary care trusts.
• CCGs are intended to be GP-led, with the aim of improving commissioning practices through increased clinical input.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the foundational assumptions of CCGs.
• To evaluate the asserted 'added value' that general practitioners (GPs) contribute to healthcare commissioning.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews.
• Conducted with 40 clinicians and managers across seven CCGs in England.
• Interviews focused on the perceived benefits of GP involvement in commissioning.

Main Results:

• GP 'added value' is linked to their detailed patient knowledge, enhancing service design and negotiation.
• Concerns were raised regarding GP workload and difficulties in engaging the broader GP community.
• Potential bias towards experiential knowledge over systematic public health data was noted.

Conclusions:

• The effectiveness of CCGs in leveraging GP knowledge remains a key question.
• Emphasis on individual GP experience raises concerns about representativeness and inclusivity of diverse voices.
• The prioritization of personal GP knowledge over public health intelligence warrants further investigation.