Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he plans to offer to clinical commissioning groups which introduce policy for joint surgery.

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are primarily responsible for commissioning services to meet the requirements of their population. In doing so, CCGs need to ensure that the services they provide are fit for purpose, reflect the needs of the local population, are based on the available evidence. CCGs should take national guidelines into account as they take commissioning decisions.

It is the role of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and NHS England (alongside other arm’s length bodies) to issue guidance to CCGs, based on the latest evidence and expertise.