Primary Care Trusts

There are one hundred and fifty two PCTs who collectively are responsible for spending around 80% of the total NHS budget and overseeing twenty nine thousand GPs and eighteen thousand NHS dentists. In addition they commission acute services from other NHS Trusts and the private sector, provide primary care in their locations and oversee such matters as primary and secondary care prevention, vaccination administration and control of epidemics. The finance and much of the agenda of PCTs is effectively determined by directives from the Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and Department of Health (DH).

NHS Hospital Trusts administer hospitals, treatment centres and specialist care in acute and community environments.

Increasingly these have opted to become NHS Foundation Trusts (FTs). FTs are a fundamental part of the current NHS reform programme. They reflect the move from a centrally managed service towards one that is managed locally and so more responsive to patients. Other NHS Trust organisations in England are Ambulance Service Trusts, NHS Care Trusts and NHS Mental Health Service Trusts.