primary care trust
primary care trust
Any of the local healthcare administrative bodies which have been the cornerstone of the NHS. PCTs are responsible for the health of local populations by commissioning primary care health services, ensuring that there are enough primary care practitioners (GPs, dentists, opticians, pharmacists and community-based health services) and that they are accessible to patients, as well as by commissioning secondary healthcare services within a defined geographic area. PCTs work closely with clinicians and practitioners and other organisations, such as acute trusts, local authorities, and social services, to provide hospital care, mental healthcare, walk-in centres, NHS Direct, patient transport including ambulance services, and population screening, as well as providing an array of community care services such as speech therapy, occupational nursing, rehabilitation services, district and community nurses and physiotherapy.Primary Care Trust roles
• Specify and commission services to agreed quality standards;
• Monitor provision of services;
• Responsible for health of the population they serve.