It is hoped all authorised CCGs will have their conditions lifted by the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) by April 2013.

Proposals for the final elements of the authorisation governance process for CCGs have been published today (12 July) ahead of the NHS CB’s board meeting on the 19 July.

It is proposed a condition would be attached to every unmet criteria out of the current 119 CCG authorisation standards.

A new Conditions Panel, chaired by NHS CB Chief Operating Officer Ian Dalton, would then decide which of the pre-determined seven areas of support would relate to each condition.

The types of support proposed for approval include: making advice and expertise available; providing a specific team or individual; appointing an alternative accountable officer; and removing functions.

A new NHS CB sub committee, with full delegated authority, and charged with making all authorisation decisions, would then set out an agreed timetable for when the CCG can overcome its conditions.

Dame Barbara Hakin, National Director for Commissioning Development at the NHS CB, said she hoped the proposals will give CCGs "clarity" about the authorisation process.

"It wouldn’t be fair if CCGs were given conditions and then were not told how to rectify their mistakes or problems or when they could become condition-free," she said.

Hakin said she is "not surprised" at the speedy way wave one CCG applicants have got their submissions in on time, but said the authorisation process "must not be underestimated".

"There is a lot of enthusiasm out there among CCGs," she said.

"But we must remember that wave one is small and full of ex PBC members. The preceding waves are going to be a lot bigger with possibly less mature CCGs."