A GP-led group that took over the purse strings for buying healthcare in April has now satisfied criteria related to systems in place to ensure patient safety.

But Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) still has more work to do in order to meet criteria linked to its commissioning and financial plans.

Surrey Downs CCG, which buys healthcare in Epsom and Ewell, Banstead, Mole Valley and east Elmbridge, was given the green light to become a statutory organisation with seven conditions in March.

NHS England has now cleared five conditions related to early warning systems, acting on patient feedback, accounting for patient safety, identifying failing services and managing serious incidents.

Two remaining conditions require more work on commissioning and financial plans.

Dr Claire Fuller, clinical chairwoman of Surrey Downs CCG, said: “It was great to hear NHS England is now satisfied we have the right systems in place for monitoring and improving quality and we are delighted that our five quality conditions have now been removed.

“This is excellent news and means we now have just two conditions remaining.”

Jane Shipp, support, liaison and engagement co-ordinator at patient champion Healthwatch, said: “Many of the CCGs, including Surrey Downs, are still in development and we would hope these would be removed in due course.

“From Healthwatch’s point of view we are pretty pleased the quality concerns have been removed because that’s of priority.”

Surrey Downs CCG covers 33 GP practices, buys healthcare for nearly 300,000 people and has a budget of more than £300m.

NHS England has announced that 152 CCGs nationwide, which equates to 72 per cent, have satisfied all 119 criteria required as part of their authorisation.