A
primary care trust (PCT) was part of the
National Health Service in
England from 2001 to 2013. PCTs were largely administrative bodies, responsible for commissioning primary, community and secondary health services from providers. Until 31 May 2011 they also provided community health services directly. Collectively PCTs were responsible for spending around 80 per cent of the total NHS budget. Primary care trusts were abolished on 31 March 2013 as part of the
Health and Social Care Act 2012, with their work taken over by
clinical commissioning groups.