Practice-based commissioning: our hope for the future

Dixon, Michael MA MBBS FRCGP

Chair of the NHS Alliance, Retford, UK

ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE

Michael Dixon, NHS Alliance, Goodbody’s Mill, Albert Road, Retford DN22 6JD, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1777 869080; fax: +44 (0)1777 869081; email: [email protected]

Received 20 July 2007

Accepted 23 July 2007

Quality in Primary Care 15(6):p 361-365, 2007.

This paper looks at where practice-based commissioning (PBC) has come from and explains why the author considers it an unmissable chance to improve the quality of services. It describes the why, what and how of PBC, its short-term and long-term future and what needs to happen for it to succeed. It shows how PBC provides an opportunity for general practitioners to revisit their purpose and core values and make a real difference in terms of improving patient services and health.