Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust - its role

Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are new NHS organisations developed as part of the Government's plan for modernising the NHS. PCTs are independent local organisations, which involve doctors and nurses in decisions to improve the health of their community and provide local health services. The Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust (PCT) will carry out the following functions:

* Developing Primary and Community Healthcare services, to improve the quality and co-ordination of care for people in our area.

* Purchasing of secondary care (District General/Regional hospital services) for people in our area.

* Working to improve the health of people in our area in partnership with local Local Authorities and Voluntary Agencies, by enhancing services and activities that improve health.

The Primary Care Trust (PCT) brings together staff and skills from Gloucestershire Health Authority, Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Group, Stroud and Berkeley Vale Primary Care Group, and parts of East Gloucestershire NHS Trust and Severn NHS Trust's community services.