The NHS Commissioning Board has revealed the names of 35 shadow CCGs who have chosen to be assessed in the first wave of applications for authorisation.
The CCGs, from across England, will if successful become the first GP-led statutory bodies from next year.
Applications for authorisation will take place in four waves from July 2012 to January 2013.
The list includes six CCGs from South Central, six from the North West, five from Yorkshire and the Humber, five from the West Midlands, four from the East Midlands, three from the East of England, three from London and three from the South West.
Dame Barbara Hakin, national director of commissioning development at the NHS Commissioning Board Authority, said: ‘All the emerging clinical commissioning groups have made fantastic progress to prepare themselves for authorisation. Today we are confirming those who have chosen to be assessed in wave one. We expect confirmation of which CCGs will be assessed in waves two, three and four shortly.'
Dr Gina Palumbo, chair of East Riding of Yorkshire CCG, said: ‘Before the introduction of the Government's Health and Social Care Bill, GPs and other clinicians in the East Riding had already become more closely involved in the commissioning of local health care through five locality commissioning groups in Haltemprice, Holderness, Goole Howden & West Wolds, Beverley & Driffield and Bridlington. We also have good existing and integrated services with East Riding of Yorkshire Council who have also supported our application. This has meant that the development of the CCG has been more of a natural ‘organic' process, which has flourished with the continued support of the East Riding of Yorkshire PCT and the Humber Cluster Joint Board.'
Dr Caron Morton, Designate Accountable Officer for Shropshire County CCG, said: ‘We are pleased to be in a position to be able to take this next step towards authorisation. Over the past twelve months we have worked closely with patients, our GP members, the local authority and all stakeholders. Together with our managerial colleagues, we have embarked on a programme of strategic transformational change across the local health economy to support the delivery of high quality sustainable healthcare locally. We look forward to progressing these areas of work and realising the improvements for our patients.'
Click here to see a map of CCGs applying for authorisation in first wave one.
