West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust

Our role

West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT) holds the NHS budget for the local population and aims to provide better services that respond to the needs of its communities.

The PCT is helping to develop services provided by family doctors, dentists, optometrists and pharmacists and provides services such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy,
health visiting, district nursing and podiatry. It is responsible for making sure that hospital care, mental health services and other specialist treatment are available when patients need them.

The PCT is working to improve the health of the population in partnership with its staff, community and voluntary organisations and local people.

Background to the PCT area

The West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust broadly covers the local council areas of Gloucester and the Forest of Dean, together with the southern area of the borough of Tewkesbury.

The area has a population of approximately 223, 000 and covers a total of over 250 square miles.

The Trust employs 7 Primary Care Development Managers who each work in different parts of the PCT area. Their role is to work with family doctors, practice staff, district nurses, health visitors and local
communities to develop services and make sure that money is being spent on the health priorities of people who live in that area (See‘ Involvement in West Gloucestershire PCT’ section) .