Health - Primary care trusts hit
WORKERS, JUNE 2006 ISSUE
The NHS faces its 21st reorganisation in as many years. From 1 October 2006 the number of Primary Care Trusts will be reduced from 303 to 152. At the same time, 900 seats on the boards of PCTs are being created (and with them, interesting prospects for patronage).
Though London retains its 32 PCTs – in order to mirror the London local government boroughs – pilot schemes to strip out all non-clinical services and replace them with shared services crossing boundaries are being prepared.
• The Ambulance Service is likewise to be re-shaped, with the existing 29 services reduced to 11 from 1 July 2006. The figure is not dissimilar to the proposed re-shaping of police forces in England, or the European Union's planned regions for England.