GPS in Waltham Forest will be among the first to take on responsibility for controlling budgets, in anticipation of a major overhaul of the NHS.
The draft Health and Social Care Bill proposes a major overhaul of the system which will see the abolition of strategic health authorities and primary care trusts (PCT), while handing control of commissioning services to doctors.
A group of GP practices in Waltham Forest are among 89 across England which have been selected to trial the new arrangements, which will see the consortia take on planning and buying local services, from hospital care to district nursing.
Under the pilot scheme, the Waltham Forest Pathfinder Consortia, led by Dr Ken Aswani of the Allum Medical Centre in Fairlop Road, Leytonstone, will work with PCT NHS Waltham Forest to learn how to take on the extra responsibilities.
Critics say the reforms are happening too quickly at a time when the NHS is under financial pressure and GPs will have control over too much money.
The Government says GPs are best placed to make decisions on patients’ needs and the reforms will enable a reduction in the number of NHS managers, improving efficiency and saving money.
Dr Ken Aswani told the BBC: "We will be looking to build on what we have been doing in recent years. That means getting services out of hospital and into the community where they are more accessible."
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