Consultation on NHS boundary changes to begin

Date published: 15/12/2005

NHS staff and people in the borough of Rochdale will be consulted from 14 December on a proposed amalgamation of the current two PCTs into a single organisation covering the same boundaries as the borough Council.  The changes are being considered as part of a process of making the delivery of health and social care services more efficient.

Health secretary Patricia Hewitt now wants feedback from staff, patients, carers and others who would be affected by the proposed re-organisation.

"Important new changes in the way the local NHS in each area is structured and managed are on their way. The views of stakeholders, including NHS staff, will be crucial in shaping these plans in each local area,” she said.

"We now need to focus on community services and ensure that primary care trusts can deliver the community health care services that patients want and need.

Trevor Purt, Chief Executive of Rochdale PCT said:

"We anticipate that boundary changes and a new focus on commissioning for primary care trusts will enable local NHS organisations to make substantial savings by reducing management costs. Any savings will be invested back into local frontline services.  It is logical that there is a single PCT for the borough which shares the same boundaries as the local authority – this would ensure that the NHS and Council could target activity across the Borough together”

The consultation is being run by the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority between 14 December and 22 March and a booklet which provides more detailed background and the proposals for change can be viewed either on www.gmsha.co.uk or  www.rochdalepct.nhs.uk.