Press release: Primary Care Trust Network comments on IPPR's Great Expectations report

13 Sep 2007

Commenting on the IPPR's call for primary care trusts to be given foundation trust status, David Stout, Director of the NHS Confederation PCT Network which represents the majority of primary care trusts, said:

"We welcome the IPPR report's suggestion that primary care trusts should be given greater freedoms and flexibility to improve healthcare services for patients.

"The NHS Confederation PCT Network is currently engaged in a broad programme of work with the Department of Health to develop greater autonomy for PCTs, linked to the development of their skills and capabilities.

"We will be working with PCTs and the Department of Health to enable PCTs to exercise a greater degree of independence, in order to deliver local services of the highest quality."

Ends

Notes for editors

1. The PCT Network represents the majority of primary care trusts in England. It was established in December 2006 to provide a distinct voice for PCTs. The Network is part of the NHS Confederation;
2. The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

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