— SHAs submit proposals to the Department
of Health by October 15 2005.
— All proposals will be judged according
to a number of criteria including:
— securing high quality, safe services
for patients;
— improving health and reducing inequalities;
— improving the engagement of GPs;
— improving public involvement;
— improving co-ordination with social services
through greater "co-terminosity" of PCT and local government
boundaries;
— effective use of resources.
— An external panel representing key
interests has been established to advise Ministers on whether
the proposals meet the criteria.
— Any proposals for changes to PCT
boundaries will then go out for a three month statutory consultation
to all local stakeholders and staff interests. This consultation
will begin in early December 2005. No decisions on future local
configurations will be taken until after this full statutory local
consultation has been completed.
— Changes to SHAs will precede changes
to PCTs and any changes to the latter will not commence before
April 2006. Any changes to PCTs' role in providing services will
take place over a longer timescale and will be subject to consultation
in the usual way.
— The Department expects that PCTs
will make arrangements for universal coverage of Practice Based
Commissioning to be in place by December 2006.
