Primary care trusts are responsible for awarding general practice (GP) contracts to the providers that can offer the best quality and value for money services to meet local needs, including independent, voluntary and third sector organisations and entrepreneurial GPs. The Department does not routinely collect this information.
However, the Department is providing the local national health service with procurement support through the national Fairness in Primary Care initiative, for which nine contracts have been awarded in 2008; of which four were awarded to independent sector operators, three to GP-led organisations and two to social enterprises.
Information on Fairness in Primary Care contracts is in the following table.
PCT scheme Provider Type of organisation Date signed Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT Central Nottingham Clinical Services Social enterprise 2008 Hartlepool PCT Intrahealth Independent sector 2008 County Durham PCT Blackball and Peterlee Practice GP-led 2008 Bolton PCT SSP Health GP-led 2008 Ashton Leigh and Wigan PCT (Scheme B) Intrahealth Independent sector 2008 Ashton Leigh and Wigan PCT (Scheme C) Integral health partnership GP-led 2008 Ashton Leigh and Wigan PCT (Scheme D) Intrahealth Independent sector 2008 Luton PCT SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) Social enterprise 2008 Manchester PCT Care UK Independent sector 2008