On October 1st 2006 all five current Leeds Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will merge to become one pan-Leeds organisation. This is part of a nationwide, government led process supposedly cutting wastage and bureaucracy in the NHS. However it is also linked to the government agenda of opening up the NHS to increased privatisation. In January this year New Labour were forced to retreat from their position that the new Primary Care Trusts would be obliged to put their services out to tender following pressure from the trades unions and others. However they still retain the option and to do so and this is clearly still part of the government’s long term aim
The new PCT has not been formed yet and we cannot predict what decisions it will make but we need to be prepared for the fact that handing over NHS services to the private sector will certainly be one option on their agenda.

We have drawn up a petition to demonstrate our opposition to any moves to hand over health care provision in Leeds to non NHS providers. The petition will be presented to the new pan Leeds PCT after it comes into existence in October 2006.

For those who are interested in discussing the threat to publicly provided health care in Leeds and how we might consider responding there will be a meeting on Thursday 14th. September 7:30pm at the Common Place, 23-25 Wharf Street, Leeds. This has been organised by a group of mental health workers and union members who work in primary care in Leeds.

For more information please email  saveprimarycare@yahoogroups.com