A VISION has been unveiled for a new health body directing the NHS across the whole of York and North Yorkshire.

The move follows weeks of speculation about the fate of the four primary care trusts (PCTs) in the region, after it was revealed the Government was planning a massive shake-up of the NHS in a bid to save £250 million.

Fewer PCTs are envisaged with a different focus and more strategic responsibilities.

The new proposal is for one organisation to cover North Yorkshire and the city of York, maintaining a local focus and drawing on the expertise of GPs and other health care professionals.

The acting chief executive of Selby and York Primary Care Trust, Penny Jones, already shares her time with the Craven, Harrogate and Rural PCT, where she is also chief excutive.

The other two trusts which may merge with them are Hambleton and Richmondshire, led by Simon Kirk, and Scarbrough, Whitby and Ryedale, led by Michael Whitworth.

The bid has been submitted to the North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority and will then go to the Department of Health.

A spokesman for the four local PCTs said: "Our proposal is about making best use of the economies of scale, and creating an organisation ready and able to meet the challenge of a changing NHS.

"A countywide PCT will strengthen joint approaches with City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council - both of whom provide social services - and with other countywide organisations including those in the voluntary sector."

He said the new PCT could provide specialist regional hospital services for local people.

"At the same time, groups of GP practices will be increasingly making decisions at a local level about, for instance, which hospital an individual patient will be sent to, based on factors including patient choice," he said.

"A key part of the proposal is to maintain strong locality links, working closely with the GP practices as well as dentists, pharmacists and optometrists.

"A single PCT model will mean there will be the opportunity to make the most of limited resources to improve and promote good health and reduce the inequalities which are known to exist."

The Department of Health wants to see PCTs and other services across England merge to save money in management which can be put into front-line services.

Workers in the four PCTs are being briefed about the proposals as they develop. Public consultation will take place before any changes are made.

Updated: 10:28 Friday, October 07, 2005