Are NHS jobs at risk?

7:00am Thursday 14th August 2008

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MEDICAL staff directly employed by Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust face an uncertain future as the organisation has decided in principle to stop providing its own health services.

Instead, the PCT plans to concentrate on commissioning services such as health visiting, school nursing, district nursing, community palliative care, audiology, dietetics, podiatry and speech therapy from other organisations.

The implications for staff are not yet known, but the services currently employ the equivalent of 650 full-time staff and have a combined budget of £24 million.

The move follows the NHS Next Stage Review, which makes clear that the main role of primary care trusts is to become "world class commissioners" of health services.

The PCTs have been told they can keep directly managed services, which are currently run by "provider arms" but have been warned that this could lead to conflicts of interest. A report to Bournemouth and Poole PCT's board said it would have to set up a new organisation with its own directors and management to continue providing the services.

While some PCT provider organisations could go on to become community foundation trusts, Bournemouth and Poole's annual income is too low to make that option viable.

The PCT recently started a year-long review of all its services and will be seeking the views of staff, patients, carers and the public over the best way forward.

Deputy chief executive Paul Sly said: "We are all aware of the hugely important role that community services play in caring for people outside the hospital setting.

"We are working with staff and our partner organisations to ensure our community services continue to provide high-quality care while we consider the future organisational arrangements."

Sarah Elliott, director of service provision for the trust, said: "I understand that the current discussions may be causing uncertainty for staff and we are doing everything possible to minimise concern as we work through the options for the future.

"I believe these reviews offer us the opportunity to put the patients at the centre of all we do, and to ensure we are building services that will continue to meet patient needs in the future."