Musculoskeletal Disorders: Primary Care Trusts

Paul Rowen
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of primary care trust funding levels for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in 2008-09.

Ann Keen
No specific assessment of primary care trust (PCT) funding levels for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions has been made.

All primary care trusts have undertaken a comprehensive needs assessment as part of developing their strategic plans.

As long as PCTs meet national standards and guidance, the local national health service is free to make decisions on spending priorities based on the character and needs of their local population. Local NHS organisations are answerable to their local populations for the decisions that they make.