GPs are best placed to decide how NHS cash should be spent

I agree the speed and pace of the NHS reforms has been fast.

But the fact remains the majority of GPs have long held the view they are best placed to decide how and where money is spent improving healthcare.

Our clinical commissioning group spent the year prior to the April 1 handover shadowing the work of the outgoing primary care trust and, as a result, we have a good understanding of what needs to be done.

This calls for greater partnership working with organisations such as the council and the public themselves because greater personal responsibility for health is vital.

The NHS looks after us and we need to look after it by looking after ourselves.

I strongly support the retention of free healthcare as do most of my colleagues but this means getting the most out of the money we have to spend.

I am confident we can build on existing services and would ask you to revisit this topic at a later date to see benefits of clinically-led commissioning.

Dr Bhaskar Bora, clinical chair, Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group