Practice-based commissioning by primary care trusts on course

Primary care trusts remain on course to meet the government’s target of implementing practice-based commissioning by the end of the year, figures out today show.

They show 82 per cent of trusts had implemented arrangements for PBC, under which GP practices are given virtual budgets with which to purchase services, as of 30 September.

PBC is a key mechanism for achieving the government’s aims of shifting health services out of hospitals into the community by giving GPs incentives to purchase community-based care for their patients.

It should also promote joint working between GP and social care, though concerns have been raised that different working practices will cause tensions.