NHS Plymouth

NHS Plymouth is the local Primary Care Trust and the lead National Health Service (NHS) organisation for the city of Plymouth responsible for improving the health and well-being of the 250,700 people who live in Plymouth.

As a Primary Care Trust (PCT) NHS Plymouth has four core functions:

• To commission healthcare services on behalf of the population of Plymouth
• To improve the health of the population of Plymouth and reducing inequalities in health
• To provide primary care and community services
• To co-ordinate and develop health services provided by primary care contractors such as: family doctors, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists

NHS Plymouth was formed on 1 April 2001 from Plymouth Community Services NHS Trust and part of the South and West Devon Health Authority. It gained Teaching PCT status in 2003, as part of a Government initiative to create jobs for practitioners who wish to mix their clinical role with teaching, research or development and to help attract and retain skilled clinicians. As a Teaching PCT, NHS Plymouth brings together partner PCTs from across Devon and Cornwall to become a centre of excellence of clinical care with the aim of providing a rich culture of continuing professional development and lifelong learning, research and development projects.