In Commissioning a Patient-led NHS, published in July, primary caretrusts were told they would have to abandon their role as a provider ofservices by 2008.
However, in a statement to Parliament last week, health secretaryPatricia Hewitt said health visitors, district nurses and othercommunity staff "will continue to be employed by their primary caretrust unless and until the trust decides otherwise, following full localpublic consultation". She added that the "terms and conditions of staffwill, of course, be protected".
A new deadline has yet to be set.
The move was welcomed by health professionals, who say the removal ofprimary care trusts' employer role has slowed down children's trusts'development.
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