The National Health Service

Primary Care Trusts
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are responsible for the planning and securing of health services and improving the health of their local population.

They are provided with the funding to plan and commission health services for their local communities, a role previously undertaken by the health authorities. They will eventually control 75% of the National Health Service budget. As they control the vast majority of NHS funds these trusts prioritise service provision according to local need. In many instances the needs of the local population will be in excess of the funds the PCT has to meet them.

As a result often a rationing or prioritising exercise is undertaken. This is where the difficulties in acquiring funding for hepatitis C treatment usually occur. This could be because there are a number of hepatitis C patients requesting funding for treatment or that the demands across all health areas are greater than the funds available. If your specialist has been unable to secure funding for your treatment and you wish to become involved in the process there are a number of things you can do.