Sax Quacks               Drs Havard, Evans, Murphy, Hamblyn, Dunn, Oates & Richards GP Commissioning There has been much in the news over the past few years about NHS reforms and GP commissioning. The  fundamental idea of commissioning is for practices to form local consortia and commission NHS services themselves  rather than it being done by the Primary Care Trust and Department of Health, improving levels of patient care and  access and increasing value for money.   Saxmundham is part of the Suffolk Commissioning Ideals Alliance (Suffolk CIA) consortium which consists of 9 local  GP practices. In turn Suffolk CIA is part of East Suffolk Federation which is a group of 3 Suffolk consortia.   As well as Saxmundham, Suffolk CIA consists of the following GP practices:  • Central Surgery (Felixstowe)   • Church Farm Surgery (Aldeburgh)   • Haven Health (Felixstowe)   • Howard House (Felixstowe) • Leiston Surgery   • The Birches Medical Centre (Kesgrave)   • Walton Surgery (Felixstowe) • Martlesham Heath Surgery  Dr John Havard is the Chair of Suffolk CIA and sits on the Board of Suffolk East Federation as the Lead GP for  planned care.   Consortia are responsible for commissioning healthcare services across a range of clinical or service areas,  including:  • Community health services (except where part of the public health service)  • Maternity services  • Elective hospital care  • Urgent and emergency care including A&E, ambulance and out-of-hours services  • Older people’s healthcare services  • Healthcare services for children, including those with complex healthcare needs (except for those specialised  services commissioned by the NHS CB)  • Rehabilitation services  • Wheelchair services  • Healthcare services for people with mental health conditions  • Healthcare services for people with learning disabilities  • Continuing healthcare  Consortia may also agree to commission some health improvement services jointly with local authorities. This could  include, for example, obesity, smoking cessation and drug/alcohol services.  For more information visit:  www.suffolkcia.co.uk and www.eastfed.org.uk