PCTs have a new duty to secure primary medical services. There are four contractual routes to obtain these: General Medical Services (GMS), Personal Medical Services (PMSs), alternative providers of primary medical services (APMS) and PCT provided primary medical services (PCTMS).
This study reviews primary care trusts' (PCTs) readiness to become proactive commissioners of primary care.
The aim of the study is to help PCT managers to maximise the benefits from additional planned investments in primary care, new powers and the new national contract with general practices, to be implemented from April 2004.
Included in this report:
- policy framework
- PCTs progress in shaping primary medical services and implementing new arrangements
- understanding the use of resources in general practice
- making improvements - examples from PCT study sites
- recommendations