From a recent Spending panel analysis, Andrew Lansley, Health Secretary, appears to be failing to deliver on his promise to devolve responsibility to doctors who were “best placed” to control local health spending, and cut back on high-salaried managers who were out of touch with the needs of patients.

According to a recent analysis, family doctors are being outnumbered by non-medical officials in the Government’s reorganisation of local health spending.  Original pledges put GP’s at the forefront of its NHS reforms.

The results show that GP’s make up less than half of the places on new clinical commissioning groups, in some areas accounting for less than 20 per cent of the groups.  The report by medical newspaper, Pulse, suggests that former executives of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities are taking control of the new commissioning bodies that will be responsible for spending £60billion a year on local health services.

Of the 1300 board positions analysed; GP’s held only 645 and nurses just 65 places.

Peter Carter, the chief executive the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Without the experience of senior, experienced nurses, clinical commissioning groups are missing out on a voice which will help them connect with patients and to represent their best interests.”

Clare Gerada, the chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “GP’s are much more interested in providing care to patients than in the commissioning process.”

When asked about the report, the Department for Health said: “Clinical commissioning groups are at the heart of plans to deliver more power to doctors and nurses and reduce costs of bureaucracy.”