The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7247 p606
3 May 2003

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NatPaCT competencies (more)

Competencies for PCTs launched

A series of organisational competencies for primary care trusts is being developed by the National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme (NatPaCT).

NatPaCT was established to provide organisational development support to PCTs following the decision to devolve commissioning of services to a local level in the White Paper "Shifting the balance of power in the NHS".

The first wave of the competency programme covers medicines management, community health and social care, contracting issues, commissioning services and clinical governance. The competencies are intended to be used as a self-assessment tool by PCTs. Details are available on the NatPaCT website.

The competencies are being developed by the medicines management, pharmacy and prescribing significant issues group of NatPaCT. The group is chaired by the chief pharmacist for England, Dr Jim Smith. It will also be commissioning PCTs to undertake funded developmental projects. Initially, they will be about implementing supplementary prescribing and commissioning secondary and tertiary care services.