Local GPs are to have more control over NHS spending and patient care.

More than £1billion funding was delegated to GP-led committees in Wandsworth, Croydon, Richmond, Sutton, and Merton at a recent meeting of the Joint Boards of the Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) of South West London.

Each PCT will still control the NHS budget in its area until the official GP handover takes place in 2013.

But this move means GPs, working with other local healthcare professionals and their local communities, will make key decisions over how to provide the best care from August 2011 onwards.

The move is part of the government’s plan to abolish PCTs by 2013 and make GPs fully responsible for NHS commissioning.

The GP-led committee in Sutton and Merton (representing The Sutton Consortium and The Federation) will include representatives from other local health professionals and communities, and will focus on the particular healthcare priorities of its local population.

Dr Geoff Hollier, chairman of Merton Healthcare, joint chairman of the Federation and a local GP said: “This gives us the opportunity to build on the work we have already done to develop new services for our patients.

“For example, recently, we have worked with our NHS partners and patients to develop a new pathway for local people who need hip and knee replacement operations.

“We are delighted to now provide them with a better service, which requires them to only visit hospital once before the decision is made about their operation.

“As well as providing better care for patients this also means that NHS resources are used in the most efficient way possible.”

Dr Howard Freeman, local Merton GP and Joint Medical Director of NHS South West London, said: “The most important thing about this decision is that will bring benefits for patients and help deliver better health services for local residents.

“GPs are working together with other NHS health professionals and people from the local community to lead decisions about the care their local population receive. GPs have a unique perspective into the kind of care that their patients need and we want to make the most of the knowledge they have.”