A consortium, led by KPMG and including Morgan Cole, has been awarded a contract by the Department of Health to work with the Boards of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) to help them rise to the challenge of their role as commissioners of healthcare services.

In addition to Morgan Cole and KPMG, the other members of the consortium are Dr Foster Intelligence, Manchester Business School and Role Plays for Training.

Under the Department of Health's "World Class Commissioning" initiative, the 152 PCTs in England are now responsible for commissioning all healthcare services - from GP services through to planned and emergency hospital treatment. This represents both an opportunity and a challenge for the Boards of PCTs, which are made up of NHS managers, clinicians and non-executive members representing local community interests. 

The Department of Health has launched a programme to develop the knowledge, skills and competences of PCT Board members which will be delivered through a national framework contract awarded to seven consortia.

Bruce Potter, Partner at Morgan Cole, commented: "I am delighted that Morgan Cole will be assisting KPMG and other members of the consortium to deliver this vital programme of change within the NHS. We have significant experience of delivering practical, commercial advice and guidance to NHS organisations throughout England and Wales that enables us to provide valuable direction to Board members. We will assist them to understand the new system management environment in their local health economies; identify the gaps in their organisations; and the ongoing work needed to embed the Board level messages."

As a leading law firm, Morgan Cole will bring clarity and focus on important legal and corporate governance issues. Other members of the consortium, who complement Morgan Cole’s own skills and experience, are:

• KPMG, a global accountancy and advisory firm, bringing financial and commercial rigour and strategic insight;
• Dr Foster Intelligence, the leading UK health informatics firm, bringing analytical insight into the needs of patients and the performance of provider organisations;
• Manchester Business School, one of the UK's premier business schools, bringing academic rigour and experience of delivering successful executive development programmes; and
• Role Plays for Training, a company of specialists in role-based learning, bringing an innovative and participative approach to training.

Alan Downey, Head of Healthcare at KPMG, commented: "I am proud to be working with Morgan Cole and the other members of the consortium. Together, we are able to offer PCT Boards a compelling and innovative development programme. I am confident they will find working with us a rewarding and valuable experience, leading to a tangible improvement in their performance and enabling them to deliver real improvements in the quality of healthcare."

Over the coming months, the consortium will work closely with PCT Boards to assess their performance, develop their skills and enable them to become truly world class as commissioners of healthcare services on behalf of the communities they serve.