READING’S Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) have been given a clean bill of health following their annual review.

Proud bosses at the South Reading and North and West Reading CCGs were delighted to discover they had not only passed their annual assurance reviews with NHS England Thames Valley but received “glowing” feedback on all six judging criteria.

The two CCGs, which have commissioned healthcare across the borough since April last year, were judged on whether they were meeting their responsibilities to patients in quality of services, engagement, outcomes for patients, governance, partnership working and leadership.

Whilst South Reading CCG chairwoman Dr Elizabeth Johnston was delighted with the results, she stressed that neither group is going to rest on their laurels.

She said: “All of us in the South Reading CCG team are proud to have achieved these results while operating under tight budget constraints.

“As ever, there is still work to be done in the areas of pressure on A&E departments and improvements to NHS 111.

“However, significant work has been done and we are working in partnership with other bodies to make it happen.”

The investigation praised North and West Reading CCG’s leadership team while South Reading CCG’s work to reduce clostridium difficile – antibiotic-associated diarrhoea – by appointing an infection control nurse at the Royal Berkshire Hospital was highly commended.

Inspectors also reviewed the CCGs’ governing body papers and observed board meetings and judged that both were positive.

NHS England Thames Valley’s director Matthew Tait said: “It’s clear that both CCGs have developed over the year as organisations and that clinical and managerial leadership combine into a positive driving force within the CCGs.”

Dr Rod Smith, chairman of the North and West Reading CCG, added: “The assurance feedback is a welcome endorsement for the hard work and passion of everyone who works within the NW Reading CCG.”