Commenting on the publication of the projected budgets for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), public health and the NHS Commissioning Board, NHS Confederation deputy chief executive David Stout, said:

"We welcome the publication of these spending estimates for the new NHS and public health commissioning architecture. They will provide emerging CCGs and local authorities with the information they need to support initial planning for the commissioning responsibilities they will take on in the future.

"However, the figures need to be treated with some caution. Much of the information used to draw up these projections has never been collected in this way before so there will a number of issues that need to be ironed out. These budgets may look quite different when they are finalised, especially as responsibilities for certain services such as infection control and emergency planning are still being finalised.

"Many local authorities are already having to make large savings due to budget cuts and the NHS is experiencing a period of significant financial constraint. When clinical commissioning groups and local authorities do get their initial allocations, it will be essential that allocations are calculated, reviewed, and ultimately awarded to organisations in a fair and transparent way, and do not throw local health economies into unexpected financial difficulty impacting on patient services due to changes in funding formulae and levels.

"The pace and process of transferring these budgets will also be important. Allowing plenty of time for handover of duties will be absolutely necessary if NHS commissioners are to ensure sound financial planning is maintained. Organisations will need to work together in a mature, open and flexible way to ensure NHS resources are getting where they are needed to improve health and health services during a time of significant change."