The Department of Health has announced a radical reorganisation of PCTs in England. The number of PCTs will be halved and by the end of 2006 they will be commissioning bodies and will not directly provide services unless no practical alternative can be found. It is expected that there will be £250 million savings arising from this. PCTs will not be employing frontline staff including health visitors, district nurses, speech and language therapists and school nurses. Full details are available on the website and reps and members should ensure that these proposals are fully discussed at trust and SHA levels with amicus during the consultation period.