Almost nine out of 10 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have applied for greater control over primary care services in England, despite concerns this could weaken pharmacy's role.

The "vast majority" of CCGs had formally expressed interest in co-commissioning services with NHS England, the national commissioning body announced last week (July 1). LPCs said in May that giving CCGs more power could create a "conflict of interest" and commissioners might see pharmacy as an easy place to make cutbacks.

NHS England told C+D on Friday (July 4) that the extra powers would not see CCGs given responsibility for community pharmacy services. The commissioning body was encouraging CCGs to work closely with local pharmacy bodies to see if they could play a wider role in meeting local health needs, it said.

The enhanced powers could allow CCGs to have a greater involvement in the commissioning decisions made by NHS England's area teams, work on strategies with local authorities' health and wellbeing boards and negotiate local primary care contracts, NHS England said.

One hundred and eighty three of the 211 CCGs put forward proposals to NHS England describing how the new powers would improve patient care, which it described as a "very substantial" response. The CCGs will be told whether their applications were successful in October, before NHS England starts funding new schemes in April 2015, it said.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said that empowering local clinicians was an "important step" in creating a more flexible health service.

In May, PSNC said the new powers were an "important opportunity" for LPCs to share ideas with CCGs to help shape the future of primacy care. But LPC leaders said pharmacists should be careful when entering discussions with these commissioners and warned that CCGs might commission services among themselves.

	Are you reassured by NHS England's statement that CCGs will not be given responsibility for community pharmacy services?