GP at Hand: CCG is forced to delay primary care network approvals after single network request

Abstract

The clinical commissioning group (CCG) hosting Babylon Health’s GP at Hand service has been forced to delay approving local practices’ applications to join primary care networks, after referring the digital service’s bid to become a single network1 to NHS England.\n\nGP leaders said it was vital that delays did not extend beyond the 30 June deadline, as this could prevent practices from accessing much needed additional funding for patient care through the network contract directed enhanced service (DES), which starts on 1 July.\n\nTo qualify for the extra funding, practices had to submit an application by 15 May to register to join a collaborative network covering 30\u2009000-50\u2009000 patients. CCGs had to ensure that all patients in their locality area will be covered by a network by 31 May 2019.\n\nBut Hammersmith and Fulham CCG’s primary care committee said at a meeting …