Health bosses welcome merger.

NORTH Warwickshire health bosses have welcomed a Government move to merge the county's three primary care trusts.

From October the three trusts in the county - North Warwickshire, South Warwickshire and Rugby - will be one trust known simply as Warwickshire.

Many people have criticised the move, including members of Rugby Borough Council who branded it "reckless", but North Warwickshire PCT has backed the plan.

The shake-up was recently announced by health secretary Patricia Hewitt, alongside the more controversial plan to merge all the region's ambulance services.

Nationally, the number of primary care trusts, which are responsible for hospitals and aspects of community care including mental health, patient transport and NHS Direct, will be slashed from 303 to 152.

Simon Crews, director of patient liaison for North Warwickshire PCT, said the trust had supported the proposals all along, adding: "We felt the opportunities offered by merging the three PCTs was the best option.

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Publication:	Coventry Evening Telegraph (England)
Date:	May 24, 2006
Words:	151
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