Commissioning

The editorial on commissioning is very relevant in today’s clinical climate,¹ where demands and expectations are soaring and resources are stretched. Involvement of clinicians in decision making is of paramount importance, as spotlighted in this article.

It has been a number of years since CCGs began to involve clinicians. The article perhaps falls short of mentioning the challenges faced by those who took up the task to engage in commissioning and what has been the success. One wonders if any research has been conducted on satisfaction and other outcomes for the clinicians who were involved. One also wonders what are the common barriers that still keep many GPs rather distant from engagement in commissioning.

Most of us acquire non-clinical skills over time, mostly on an ad hoc basis. There needs to be a robust system to hone such skills. Working together in an integrated system of delivery is a wonderful concept in this resource-limited environment, but continuity of care must not be compromised. Continuity of care not only gives the patient a better experience but is also associated with better clinical outcomes. Further discussion is needed on the issues highlighted in this article.

• © British Journal of General Practice 2019