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How we fit into NHS Structure
The NHS is a complex organisation that can seem confusing, this summary will explain NHS structure and how each part of the NHS fits together and their role.
NHS North West is the strategic health authority (SHA) for the North West, one of ten SHAs across the country. SHAs plan health care for the population of the region they cover and are responsible to the Department of Health.
Strategic health authorities are responsible for the performance of NHS organisations known as trusts. This includes primary care trusts (PCTs), acute trusts, mental health trusts and Ambulance service trusts. There are also foundation trusts, which operate more independently and are regulated by a different organisation, Monitor.
Primary and Secondary Care Explained
Health services are divided between 'primary' and 'secondary'. Primary care services include general medical practitioners (GPs), dentists, pharmacists, opticians, district nursing and numerous other services. These are provided locally, near to where patients live, often in the local high street or even in patients' own homes. The more specialised services, which we use less often and are provided in fewer locations, are called 'secondary care'. This includes not only hospitals but also ambulances and specialised health services for people with mental health problems or a learning disability.
Primary Care Trusts
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for the provision of health services to the local community. They are responsible for improving the health of the population they serve, tackling health inequalities and securing high quality services. They do this through their commissioning role, often working in partnership with other bodies, in particular local councils.
There are 24 Primary Care Trusts in the North West
1. NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan
2. NHS Blackburn With Darwen
3. NHS Blackpool
4. NHS Bolton
5. NHS Bury
6. Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT
7. NHS Central Lancashire
8. NHS Cumbria
9. NHS East Lancashire
10. NHS Halton and St Helens
11. NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale
12. NHS Knowsley
13.Liverpool PCT
14. NHS Manchester
15. NHS North Lancashire
16. NHS Oldham
17. NHS Salford
18. NHS Sefton
19. NHS Stockport
20. NHS Tameside and Glossop
21. NHS Trafford
22. NHS Warrington
23. NHS Western Cheshire
24. NHS Wirral
NHS Trusts
NHS trusts are responsible for running many NHS hospitals.
1. East Cheshire NHS Trust
2. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
3. Pennine Acute NHS Trust
4. North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust
5. Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust
6. Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust
7. St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust
8. Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust
Care Trusts
Care trusts manage integrated services between health and social care and are born out of joint working agreements between the NHS and Local Authorities. There is one Care Trust in the North West.
1. Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust
Mental Health Trusts
Mental health trusts oversee mental health services which can be provided through a General Practitioner, other primary care services, or through more specialist care in NHS hospital trusts or local council social services departments. Most mental health trusts in the North West are now foundation trusts and are listed here as such.
1. Mersey Care NHS Trust
Foundation Trusts
NHS foundation trusts are a new type of NHS trust in England and have been created to devolve decision-making from central government control to local organisations and communities so they are more responsive to the needs and wishes of their local people. Foundation trusts are regulated by Monitor. Find out more about foundation trusts. There are 28 Foundation Trusts in the North West.
1. 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
2. Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
3. Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
4. Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals Foundation Trust
5. Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
6. Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
7. Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
8. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
9. Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Foundation Trust
10. Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust
11. Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
12. Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
13. Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust
14. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
15. Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
16. Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust
17. Mid-Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
18. Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
19. Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
20. Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
21. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
22. Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
23. University Hospitals of Morcambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
24. University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust
25. The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
26. Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
27. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
28. Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
Ambulance Trusts
Ambulance Trusts provide emergency access to healthcare.
If you call for an emergency ambulance the calls are prioritised into:
* Category A emergencies, which are immediately life-threatening
* Category B or C emergencies, which are not life-threatening
The emergency control room decides what kind of response is needed and whether an ambulance is required. For all three types of emergency, they may send a rapid-response vehicle, crewed by a paramedic and equipped to provide treatment at the scene of an incident. Over the past five years the number of ambulance 999 calls has gone up by a third.
The NHS is also responsible for providing transport to get many patients to hospital for treatment. In many areas it is the ambulance trust that provides this service.
There is one Ambulance Trust in the North West
1. North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Our Partners
Care Quality Commission
The independent regulator of health and social care in England that aims to ensure better care provided for everyone, whether in hospital, in care homes, in people's own homes, or elsewhere.
Care Services Improvement Partnership
An amalgamation of a number of Health and Social Care organisations who are working with partners in the North West on a variety of health and social care initiatives
Department of Health
Providing health and social care policy, guidance and publications.
Government Office for the North West
Representing Central Government in the North West
Greater Manchester and Cheshire Cancer Network
The Greater Manchester & Cheshire Cancer Network was formed in 2001 and links together the organisations that provide care for people with cancer across Greater Manchester and Cheshire
Job Centre Plus
Lists health related job opportunities outside the NHS Job Seekers Director 0845 6060 234
Lancashire and South Cumbria Cardiac Network
Information about the work being undertaken to care for patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network
Provides information for patients, carers and professionals about local cancer services
Mersey Deanery
The aim of the Deanery is to develop, manage and deliver education and training to produce world-class healthcare professionals in the North West.
Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Network
The Merseyside & Cheshire Cancer Network was formed in 2000 and links together the organisations that provide care for people with cancer across Merseyside and Cheshire.
Monitor
Monitor authorises and regulates NHS foundation trusts making sure they are well-managed and financially strong so that they can deliver excellent healthcare for patients.
North Western Deanery
Funded by the Department of Health to plan, maintain and develop high quality education and training of junior doctors and dentists throughout the North West.
NHS Choices
A comprehensive information service that helps to put you in control of your healthcare.
NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme
The scheme exists to grow highly skilled managers who have the potential to go on to achieve senior leadership positions to improve Health and Healthcare.
NHS Jobs
Lists jobs available in the NHS
NHS North West Dental Health
Provides information for patients, carers and professionals about dental services in the North West.
National Treatment Agency – North West
Special health authority, created by the Government in 2001 to improve the availability, capacity and effectiveness of treatment for drug misuse in England.
NW Leadership Academy
Creating a platform for excellence in leadership and strategy development in the North West.
North West Stroke Research Network
The North West Stroke LRN is a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, scientists, patients and carers from across the North West of England who work as part of the national stroke research network.
North West Public Health Observatory
The NWPHO contains regional public health information and intelligence
North West Regional Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency is an independent organisation dedicated to protecting people's health.
Social Care Inspectorate - now part of the Care Qualtiy Commission
This organisation inspects and reports on care services and councils to improve social care and stamp out bad practice.
TrusTECH
Official Web site for TrusTECH, the North West NHS Innovation Hub providing services to NHS organisations throughout the North West.
The Board and Senior Staff