PCT-type behaviour will not work in the reformed health service, NHS England's John Wilderspin told the C+D Summit, hitting back at accusations that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were "PCTs in drag".

Mr Wilderspin, managing director of the Central Southern Commissioning Support Unit, which offers guidance to CCGs, defended the new structure, although he admitted that some colleagues "hadn't got their minds around it yet".

John Wilderspin told Summit delegates that CCGs carrying on PCT-type behaviour would not work in the new NHS	More from the C+D Summit CCGs are "PCTs in drag", Roy Lilley tells Summit GPs and pharmacists have 'lost their way' on local       engagement Encourage staff to improve outcomes, Summit told
	His comments came after NHS analyst and commentator Roy Lilley said earlier in the day that the NHS had been on a "£3 billion journey" to restructure itself, but it had ended up "back in the same place."

"Even at weekends we are not PCT in drag," Mr Wilderspin joked. "But I do think some of my colleagues are in that place." 

"We are there to support CCGs... and if we carry on with PCT-type behaviour, that won't work," he added.

Event partners

Mr Wilderspin, who is the former national director of health and wellbeing board implementation, urged pharmacists to speak to their local CCGs about getting their services commissioned.

And he argued that it was important to look beyond the "NHS bubble" to local authorities.  

"Local government, because it is more cash-strapped than the NHS at the moment, will look more innovatively at alternative providers," he told delegates. "And if pharmacists have a way of helping with independent living then they will be interested."