Primary Health Care Trusts

HC Deb 13 March 2002 vol 381 c1142W

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average size is of the population of a primary health care trust; and what guidelines his Department has on the ideal size of a trust. [40066]

Mr. Hutton

There is no upper or lower size limit for primary care trusts (PCTs). The size and the configuration of PCTs remains a local decision, taken in the light of local circumstances. PCT size will depend on the services it wishes to provide for its population, the views of local stakeholders, the impact on other local organisations—including the boundary relationships with local authority partners, and whether the PCT is fit for purpose.

The average population size of all PCTs from April 2002 will be around 170,000.