What is a Primary Care Trust?

Primary Care is the care provided by people you normally see when you first have a health problem. It might be a visit to a doctor or dentist, an optician for an eye test, or just a trip to a pharmacist to buy cough mixture. NHS Walk-in Centres, and the phone line service NHS Direct, are also part of primary care. All of these services are managed for you by your local Primary Care Trust (PCT).

Your PCT will work with local authorities and other agencies that provide health and social care locally to make sure that your local community's needs are being met.

PCTs are now at the centre of the NHS and will get 75% of the NHS budget. As they are local organisations, they are in the best position to understand the needs of their community, so they can make sure that the organisations providing health and social care services are working effectively.

For example, your PCT must make sure there are enough services for people within their area and that these services are accessible. They must also make sure that all other health services are provided, including hospitals, dentists, opticians, mental health services, NHS Walk-In Centres, NHS Direct, patient transport (including Accident & Emergency), population screening, pharmacies and opticians. They are also responsible for getting health and social care systems working together to the benefit of patients.

• Encourage and help people to adopt healthier lifestyles under the 'Fit for the future' programme
• Work in partnership with the people of Barnsley as individuals, families and communities
• Provide integrated care focusing on the individual
• Provide high quality services
• Be an organisation that achieves its goals
• Be a good employer

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