Changing identities

By Norma Beavers
Primary Care Trusts are changing again. NHS Sheffield, NHS Hull, NHS Rotherham, NHS Suffolk, and NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney are among the first to have changed their identities but others are also considering the move.

PCTs say they are rebranding to fly the NHS logo more clearly. The name changes are intended to bring to mind positive images of the NHS and PCTs’ latest mission to deliver “World Class Commissioning.” The goal is to convey the image of an organisation that is a local leader of the NHS.

The name changes come on the heels of Lord Darzi’s report for the NHS, High Quality Care for All. Research carried out for the report found the public has been very confused about what the term “Primary Care Trust” actually means. Worse still the role of PCTs within the community was not clear to many, according to Lord Darzi.

Gloria Newby, a Sheffield resident, said: “In the past I’ve seen Sheffield PCT on a lot of stationery and letter heads but I haven’t really thought about what it is or what it does. I did get confused when our four PCTs merged to become one big PCT.  I know it’s part of reforming the NHS and if PCTs change their names to put the NHS first I think that will be a clearer identity in the long run.”

Will the public be less confused when NHS replaces PCT? Sheffield pensioner, Lilly Harris, said: “I do understand what a PCT is and what they do because I’ve had to communicate with the PCT.” But she added, “I am getting concerned that they are having to change their names. They used to be called Primary Care Groups, which was easy enough to understand. I hope this latest change will be the last one.”

In Sheffield, as with others who have made the name change, the organisation is still a Primary Care Trust which means all documentation will continue to carry the full legal name of Sheffield Primary Care Trust in commercial and legal transactions. NHS Sheffield is responsible for ensuring local NHS services reflect needs and offer value for money as well as helping to improve health and health services. Serving a population of over 500,000 NHS Sheffield covers the same area as Sheffield City Council.

 

Primarily a commissioning organisation, which contracts services on behalf of the local population, from both GP practices and hospital providers, NHS Sheffield also provides community NHS services. The Provider Services side of the organisation will continue to use the Sheffield Primary Care Trust name, to help create the distinction between the commissioning and provider sides.

 

The name changes come at a time when some PCTs are separating their commissioning and provider functions and becoming  commissioning only organisations.  NHS Hull, for example, is dividing its commissioning and provider functions to become a commissioning only organisation with responsibility for buying healthcare on behalf of the population of Hull. 

 

An arms length community interest company is being set up to provide the actual healthcare, such as sexual health services, district nursing and health visiting.  Beginning 1 November the Provision Arm of NHS Hull will be known as City Health Care Partnership and will be responsible for delivering the actual health care services, such as sexual health services, district nursing and health visiting.  City Healthcare Partnership will continue to be accountable to NHS Hull with the intention over the next 12 – 18 months that it will gradually move towards being a totally independent ‘not for profit’ community interest company providing NHS services.

 

Explaining the name change to NHS Hull, Kath Lavery, Chair of NHS Hull, said: “Lord Darzi suggested re-branding PCTs as a way to clarify what a primary care trust is.  We are the organisation that is responsible and accountable for the healthcare of the people of Hull and that’s why we have adopted NHS Hull as our day-to-day name. This will make it easier for everyone to understand who we are and what we do. The term PCT often causes confusion, but everyone knows what the NHS does, and now we are clearly identified as being the organisation that is responsible for the health and wellbeing of our residents.

 

“The NHS Hull logo will be used with a new colourful design which, together with our membership scheme, is intended to help create a sense of local ownership and demonstrate that, by working together with local residents, we can all help to make the city a better place.”

 

The name change is not formal and NHS Hull will continue to use Hull Teaching Primary Care Trust on legal and formal documents, she said.