DOCTORS in Barnet are hoping to win a share of Government cash to help the transition to a new GP-led commissioning system, it has been revealed.

NHS Barnet is helping a newly formed GP consortium put together a bid for pathfinder status, which would bring a much-needed £700,000 to help the transition to the new system for 2013.

Under Government plans GPs would be responsible for putting together health strategies and deciding which services should be delivered to patients in Barnet.

At a health scrutiny meeting on Monday night councillors heard how plans for applying for pathfinder status had been “well received” by doctors, although five had not yet responded to the plans.

In order to qualify for the pathfinder package the consortium must show they have a membership base and decided who will lead the bid and apply by April.

Some coucncillors on the board were concerned about what would happen in Barnet did not qualify for the cash.

Dr Sue Sumner, who is helping put the bid together, told the committee: “The money itself is for development, not for providing care.

“It's for making local arrangements allowing clinicians to skill themselves up to take on these responsibilities. Patients will not lose out if we do not get that money.

“The expectation is most places will get it. It may not be on April 1, but in the course of that year.”