PCTs can now choose to adopt the NHS prefix before their place name

The Secretary of State's speech to the NHS Confederation conference on 18 June 2008 and the Next Stage Review report published on 30 June 2008, signaled that PCTs have the freedom to re-name to NHS Local. This means that they can choose to adopt the NHS prefix before their place name, so for example, Blackpool PCT would become known as NHS Blackpool. This will allow PCTs to position themselves as the local leader of the NHS and front-line commissioners of patient care. It is integral to the objectives of World Class Commissioning and in particular, competency 1, that PCTs should be recognised as the local leader of the NHS.