HEALTH bodies which buy in services for GPs, hospitals and a raft of NHS services have been given the green light to merge to save £5m.

Three CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) – including Hartlepool and Stockton CCG and South Tees CCG – are to join forces to become a Tees Valley CCG next April.

Further north, a County Durham CCG will replace the Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield CCG and NHS North Durham CCG.

All five bodies have been sharing staff for the past year and the merger moves were unveiled over the summer to make the bodies more efficient. 

CCGs were established in 2013 and are made up of elected bodies who control a pot of money given out by NHS England.

The merger is aiming to reduce costs from £22m to approximately £17m across the five CCGs by 2021 to meet the demands of the new NHS “long term plan”.

Dr Neil O’Brien, from the CCGs, told councillors the merger of the South Tees, Darlington and Stockton and Hartlepool bodies would give it “more buying power” at a meeting in July. 

He also said the merger “would not affect any services – or the ability of the population to access those services”.

On the back of the green light, Dr O’Brien said the merger would allow the CCG to improve.  

He added: “Over the last few months, we have been seeking views from patients, staff and partners on these plans. 

“Our close relationship with Healthwatch, local authorities and our patient groups has helped to ensure the voice of local people is heard.”

CCGs in the region were told they had to cut their costs by 20% earlier this year.

South Tees CCG was put in special measures last year and put under enhanced scrutiny by NHS England after it racked up a debt of £8.1m. 

Councillors grilled Dr O’Brien whether the sums on the merger added up at a meeting in Stockton over the summer.

At the time, Dr O’Brien said the five CCGs were already 11% of the way to their 20% savings target.

The changes will kick in on April 1.