King’s Fund “unconvinced” over health service reorganisation

The King’s Fund has said they are not convinced that the reorganisation of primary care trusts (PCTs) and ambulance trusts is the best thing that can be done for the NHS.

Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, announced that the number of primary care trusts would be reduced from 303 to 152 while the number of strategic health authorities would be cut from 28 to ten. She said the reorganisation would deliver the “very best value” for taxpayers and that PCTs would be able to better organised to suit the needs of the local population.

She said: “I have spent a great deal of time considering local views and concerns about the reconfiguration and have not been afraid to respond to these concerns in my final decision.”

“These changes make it clear that there is not a blueprint for PCTs across the country and the final decisions reflect a range of views and will deliver the best for patients in all parts of the country,” she added.

However, Niall Dickson, chief executive of the King’s Fund, said: “We remain unconvinced that a complete reorganisation of the health service at such a crucial time is the right thing to do.”

“Today’s announcement should lead to strengthened management within PCTs. The big question is whether or not these structural changes will deliver the 250 million pounds of cost savings that the government has promised,” he concluded.

The Department of Health also announced that the 29 hospital trusts would be merged to form 12 on July 1st. It said it would allow money to be saved for spending on the service by reducing the cost of bureaucracy.

© Adfero Ltd