June 2009 The Department of Health in England  has published a practical guide for GPs to Practice-based  Commissioning.  It includes a COPD example from Easington Practice in County Durham that describes how they worked from data analysis to service design, working closely with the PCT, to optimise use of community services, self management to reduce hospital admissions. 

March 2009, the Department of Health in England has announced several new initiatives to invigorate clinical commissioning (or practice-based commissioning – PbC) which is largely regarded as insufficiently active around the country. These are:

1.  A report on the vision, and what PbCs can expect from PCTs. 
2.  A report called Best Performers that lists the 8 activities that appear to leverage success.
3.  The establishment of a best practice network that will be supported by David Colin-Thome and include 5 consortia who have been approved by the DH to provide consultancy support to PCTs and PbC groups.

For further information see here.