New borders leave partnership strains

Some councils will face challenges in forging partnerships between health and social care following the restructuring of primary care trusts.

Although most new PCTs will be coterminous with single councils (Plans to axe shared boundaries rejected, 18 May), in some cases trust boundaries cut across local authority areas.

The Department of Health rejected Trent Strategic Health Authority’s recommendation to move Glossop from Tameside PCT into a new Derbyshire PCT, despite the fact that Derbyshire Council covers Glossop.

James Matthews, older adults policy head at the council, said: “We expect Tameside PCT to fully co-operate with partnership arrangements covering Glossop.”

The DH also created a Greater Yarmouth and Waveney PCT that crosses the Norfolk-Suffolk boundary, rejecting the local SHA’s recommendation for coterminous trusts in each county.