THE NHS Commissioning Board has announced that it has formally authorised both Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and South Eastern Hampshire CCG to take charge of their health budgets.

The two CCGs represent 49 GP practices and have combined budgets of £350m to cover acute hospitals, community healthcare and prescribing services.

From April 1, they will replace primary care trusts as the main commissioner of health services in their areas, as part of the biggest shake-up in the NHS since its launch in 1948.