A NEW Primary Care Trust for the whole of Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has been announced by the Government. Andy Burnham, Minister of State for Delivery and Quality, announced on Tuesday the new configuration of Primary Care Trusts. He said th

A NEW Primary Care Trust for the whole of Cambridgeshire, excluding Peterborough, has been announced by the Government.

Andy Burnham, Minister of State for Delivery and Quality, announced on Tuesday the new configuration of Primary Care Trusts.

He said that following an extensive period of public consultation, the Secretary of State has given the go-ahead for the formation of five new PCTs across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.

The new for East Anglia will be Cambridgeshire PCT, Norfolk PCT, Suffolk PCT, Peterborough PCT and Gt Yarmouth and Waveney Teaching PCT

The reconfiguration means a considerable reduction in the number of PCTs across the three counties - from 17 to five. The new PCTs, to be established on October 1 this year, will have a significantly different role to their current counterparts.

Keith Pearson, chairman of the new East of England Strategic Health Authority, said: "I am pleased to see the formation of three county PCTs, in line with the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA's recommendation and the establishment of two additional PCTs, one for the unitary authority of Peterborough and one for Gt Yarmouth and Waveney.

"The decision was made following a comprehensive 14-week consultation undertaken by the SHA where over 13,000 responses were received from local communities, stakeholders and MPs.

"All responses to the consultation and a report from the SHA were submitted to an external panel of experts who advised ministers.