Information Sheet
Primary Care Trusts

1. What is the function of PCTs

The function of the PCT was outlined by Alan Milburn's speech, April 2001 "developing power at the front line". PCTs offer health care to the local community. In some cities or areas the PCTs are divided into up to 4 or more PCTs based on geographical considerations. A PCT may specialise in one or more aspects of health care. They are not all identical. Chaplains based at the local Hospital Trust may, for instance, support a PCT which is a diverse health care organisation, working with local partners to secure good quality services to improve health and well being of its area. To take health care to the local people making it more accessible.

2. What is a PCT

Each PCT has its own Chief Executive, and has a Director of Nursing. Lord Hunt the Health Minister also announced that each PCT will have a public health representative on its Trust Board. PCTs are varied but usually are made up of GP practices, Health Centres, Community Nurses, Minor Care Units, High Street Pharmacy Practices, Approved Helplines and on-line Services, Home Services, Night Sitting, Respite Care Services. One local PCT may have two cottage type hospitals which care for the elderly. Another city PCT may have the Health Shop that provides care, support and education for people with HIV and drug users, based in the City to encourage people to attend. Hospitals can be off-putting to the younger scale of the population. PCTs are audited like Secondary Care Hospital Trusts under Clinical Governance and have 1/2/3 star rating.

3. Links

Health Care is constantly changing. PCTs in order to survive and grow must have good links with the Local Community in which they serve. Therefore closer working with Social Services and Voluntary Organisations is important. Some of the members of the Trust Board are non-executive and come from local and County Councillors. There is a greater flexibility to work with the private sector eg. Nursing Homes and other places of care, as PCTs should be more aware of what services are provided in their communities. There should be regular meetings City wide or area wide of staff from PCTs and from the local Hospital Trusts to monitor care. It is to be hoped that the private sector will send representatives.

4. Opportunities for Chaplains

It would take chaplaincy work more to the cutting edge. There would be great opportunities to network with cross-caring organisations. The Chaplain(s) would be able to co-ordinate Spiritual and Cultural Care with the various cross-caring organisations as outlined by the Patients Charter, 1992, and subsequent legislation. There are many in the community that are isolated. A Chaplain, working within the PCT, would be able to seek these out. Many elderly are housebound and have lapsed from Church. A Community Chaplain would be able to bring those that need visiting to the attention of the local Church – working within the perameters of confidentiality etc. The Community based Chaplain would be able to go to Deanery Synods, Churches Together and seek to enthuse local faith communities in taking a share in the more community based health care that is developing.

With acknowledgement to Revd Paul Waters, Chaplain,
Department of Spiritual & Pastoral Care
Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham.
University Hospital NHS Trust and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Primary Care – The Story So Far

Background

Primary Care Trusts came into being in many places on 1st April 2002.
Bringing new opportunities, anxieties and developments.

Overall NHS Snapshot

A Day in the Life on the NHS

200,000 people will see their GP
200,000 people will be helped in their own homes
33,000 A&E attendances
8,000 people carried by ambulances
2,000 babies born
25,000 operations
100,000 people seen by District Nurses
140,000 visit dentist for a check up

National Beds Enquiry

• Looking at needs of NHS over 10-20 years
• Increasing Specialisation, Day Cases, reduced length of stay
• 66% beds occupied by 65+
• 50% admissions over 75 years
• Life’s incidents v. life’s experiences
• Preference for care at home for the elderly

3 Options

1. Acute focused service, more investment in Hospitals
2. Status Quo
3. Care closer to home

Option 3 preferred

The PCT Promise

• Local Commissioning responsibility
• Services closer to patient
• Better co-ordination of patient services
• Improved public involvement
• Greater influence for local people – GPs
• Integration of Mental Health with other services
• Scope for local partnership
• Larger organisation means better scope for career prospects

PCT Responsibilities

• Health improvement
• Development of Primary and Community Care
• Commissioning of Hospital services
• 75% NHS resources (from total budget of £42 bn)

Churches Involvement

For example a Pilot project was set up in Warwickshire funded 50% Chaplaincy in Primary Care Trust and 50% Research Project – "What makes a Healthy Community?". Funding issues for University, Diocese, PCT and local Churches.

PCT 50% - Staff support, staff training re spiritual care, liaison and local Churches and all faith leaders, education re health and pastoral care – appropriate referrals of patients and continuity of care.

Research Project 50% - 3 years project based on one well defined community in North Warwickshire to examine the health issues both practically and theologically within the context of health promotion.

With acknowledgement to:
Canon Edward Pogmore, Chaplain
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Nuneaton.

Further information may be obtained from Chaplaincies at NHS Trusts with experience of PCTs:

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCIES COUNCIL
Church House, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3AZ
Tel: 020 7898 1892
Email: mary.ingledew@churchofengland.org

This page was updated 4 March 2011