DOCTORS in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley are now in charge of a £278m medical budget following the recent reorganisation of the NHS.
As of April 1 the new NHS Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) assumed responsibility for 249,000 patients from the axed primary care trust.
The body is made up of all the area’s 36 GP practices represented by a 13-strong governing body including six elected GPs, a chief nurse, a hospital medical specialist, two members of the public and three health managers.
The CCG is one of eight similar groups covering Kent and Medway as part of reforms to giving GPs control of almost 70 per cent of the national NHS budget with the aim that they can better tailor services for their area.
Chairman Dr Bhaskar Bora said: "This is a very exciting time.
"These changes put GPs in the driving seat so we can make the health system work locally in a way that is best for our patients.
"We want to make it easier for people to get the right care at every stage of their lives."
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