THE recently announced re-configuration of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) has opened up the opportunity for Devonwide Communities, including West Devon, to benefit from the changes which would become available to fund a countywide rurally focused Healthcare Service. The option to have one very strong Primary Care Trust in place of six much smaller and expensive to administer ones, is too good an opportunity to miss and is a more pragmatic approach than the West Devon Borough Council proposal to support three fragmented PCTs. The unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay will have their own PCTs. Acceptance of one PCT would make available almost £1-billion annually to purchase quality healthcare from a wide range of providers, in particular our excellent community hospitals, progressive GP practices and other health support teams, as well as the major hub hospitals at Derriford and Exeter and voluntary organisations. The millions of pounds saved on unnecessary administration costs by opting for a single PCT as in Cornwall, has to be used to fund important front-line healthcare. The setting up of a centrally located PCT, not to be confused with a past area health authority, and possibly based in Okehampton, would offer the opportunity to best serve our communities for the future. Many of the concerns raised by over centralisation of facilities at hub hospitals necessitating over long expensive journeys, exorbitant parking charges and added hospital acquired infection risks could be better addressed. Additionally, opportunities would be available to reduce health inequalities, to finance walk-in centres, mobile facilities to improve access for deep rural based residents and scope for enhanced medical MOTs for all. If you agree then you can register your support with the Peninsular Strategic Health Authority in Saltash, or on their website http://www.swpsha.nhs.uk">www.swpsha.nhs.uk Name and address supplied