Nuffield Trust head of policy Dr Judith Smith discusses how commissioners can involve acute providers at the strategic level to improve care for patients

This month we look at how clinical commissioners can reassure themselves about the quality of care their local hospital provides. Practical Commissioning editor Sue McNulty looks at the new role for GPs asquality overseers

Dr Jonathan Shapiro on the whats, whys and hows of increasing capacity.

Jo Webber sets the scene for GP commissioners as they aim to integrate the traditionally separate areas of primary and secondary care

Sean Duggan, chief executive of the Centre for Mental Health, sets the scene for mental health commissioning in England

Martin Green, chief executive of the English Community Care Association, sees an unparalleled opportunity for clinical commissioning groups to provide seamless medical services for patients in residential care

GPs in Sheffield are carrying out weekly ‘ward rounds’ at local care homes as part of a pioneering local enhanced service initiative. Dr Eithne Cummins explains how it works

When GPs in Yorkshire set out to manage residents in two care homes they saved nearly £50,000 on admission and prescribing costs – and also gained useful insight into the culture of care homes. Jane Robinson explains

Dr Johnny Marshall, chair of the NAPC, explains the juncture GP commissioners now find themselves at, following the changes to the health bill

Last year with the ink still wet on the health white paper, we asked commissioning leads from nine GP consortia for a progress report on their activity. A year on, we spoke to them* about their current preoccupations in light of the changes to the health bill

Editor Sue McNulty asks commissioning supremo Dame Barbara Hakin how GP commissioners will be expected to work with the NHS Commissioning Board, clinical senates and health and wellbeing boards

The health bill amendments toughen up the requirements for GP commissioners to work with secondary care and local authorities and place some restrictions on procurement. Three commissioning pioneers explain how they are ahead of the curve

The health and wellbeing strategy is set to become a key facet of the reforms for GP commissioners. Editor, Sue McNulty gives a heads up on what's in store.

Catherine Picton and Cathy Quinn outline the challenges ahead for GP commissioners in keeping prescribing budgets under control.

We asked our expert prescribing panel how GP commissioners could step up to the major challenge of bringing drug costs down without harming patient care.

When GPs in West Sussex formed a single area prescribing committee with their hospital colleagues, they realised there were far more challenges than simply controlling costs. Dr Steve Pike explains

Dr Steve Laitner explains how NHS East of England is helping GPs to commission in a groundbreaking way, whereby the total patient journey is co-ordinated by a single provider

A pathfinder GP consortium in Kingston, Surrey, is pioneering outcomes-based tariffs for mental health services including substance misuse and access to psychological therapies. Joint mental health commissioning manager Sylvie Yeo and consortium chair Dr Charles Alessi explain

GPs face a seismic challenge to create systems that reward outcomes rather than activity. Kaye McIntosh asks the experts how GP commissioners can rise to the challenge

The health service reforms have seen GP commissioners quickly identify urgent care as an area on which to focus, not least because of the large potential savings that can be made. Henry Clay of the Primary Care Foundation explores what urgent care involves