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The article offers a look at the commissioning of patient services by a group of general practitioners in Northamptonshire in England following the publication of the British government's health white paper in July 2010. It cites the reasons for the decision of the Nene Commissioning office in Northamptonshire to move away from primary care trust (PCT) control. The article also presents the views of several general practitioners, such as Anil Mehta and Darin Seiger, on the advantages and disadvantages of commissioning.

The article analyses British Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's privatisation plans for National Health Service (NHS). In a white paper presented by Lansley on July 12, 2001, the health secrerary noted that any willing healthcare provider will be allowed to deliver services to NHS patients as long as they provide high quality standards of care. Information is presented on the failure of Hinchingbrooke, a 369 bed complex in Cambridgeshire, England, which could be the first to be privatised under the initiative.