What happens if a PCT cannot set a budget in line with the guidance?
Answer A PCT in special circumstances will be expected to identify the causes of the financial difficulty, and to agree how to resolve it. In exceptional cases, where local agreement cannot be reached, the SHA can seek agreement from the Department to modify locally the PBC guidance. Where the PCT is struggling to set practice budgets in line with the guidance, agreement should be sought with the SHA, and then permission to follow an alternative route should be sought from the Department. Where PCTs are struggling to share freed-up resources with practices in line with the principles set out in the guidance, agreement on a different approach must be reached with practices. The SHA will act as an arbiter, and the Department should be informed of the final decision.
