Commentary on Sections Abolition of Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts Section 34 - Abolition of Primary Care Trusts
403.This section abolishes PCTs and repeals Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the NHS Act, which makes provision for PCTs.
404.The commissioning functions currently undertaken by PCTs are intended to fall to other health bodies such as CCGs, the NHS Commissioning Board, or local authorities. CCGs will be responsible for commissioning the great majority of health services, while the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for commissioning services that cannot be solely commissioned by clinical commissioning groups, such as national specialist services, and GP services. PCT responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ directors of public health jointly appointed with Public Health England.
405.Following this transfer of responsibilities, PCTs will no longer have commissioning responsibilities in the NHS. The Government intends for PCTs to retain commissioning responsibility until April 2013, as CCGs become developed and established. Once CCGs are able to take on their commissioning responsibilities, it is intended that PCTs will be abolished - this is intended to occur in April 2013.