THE three primary care trusts covering north Essex (NHS Mid Essex, NHS North East Essex and NHS West Essex), are to form a cluster under the leadership of a single chief executive.

THE three primary care trusts covering north Essex (NHS Mid Essex, NHS North East Essex and NHS West Essex), are to form a cluster under the leadership of a single chief executive.

The decision, agreed by the three organisations’ chief executives and chairmen, is designed to reduce management costs and improve collaborative working between the trusts and with partner organisations.

Arrangements for the new cluster’s chief executive will be in place by the end of September, but each of the current PCTs will remain as a statutory body and keep its own board for the time being.

A recent Government White Paper proposes to transfer most PCT commissioning responsibilities to new GP consortia by 2013. If this is approved by Parliament, then PCTs would be abolished once GP Consortia are up and running.

Essex Transition Lead Chairman, David Barron, said: “The decision to join up the PCTs will help the local NHS prepare for the future.

“A single leader opens the way for the three PCTs to share skills and resources without the disruptive effects of a full-scale merger. PCTs in other parts of the country are also exploring this option”.

Chief Executive of the East of England Strategic Health Authority, Sir Neil McKay, said: “The move enables the local NHS to prepare for a more streamlined future where GPs have more control and more money flows to the frontline as part of proposed reforms of the NHS.

“Regardless of the possible future changes however, it is a significant step forward in delivering greater efficiency for the people of North Essex.”