The Isle of Wight NHS PCT is responsible for all NHS services on the Isle of Wight and is one of the largest organisations in the Island’s Strategic Partnership (ISP). It has a budget of around £230 million and employs approximately 3,100 staff. The PCT is unique in the NHS as both a commissioner and provider of a broad and diverse range of services including community, mental health, ambulance and the acute services based at St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.
The PCT is committed to the Eco Island Sustainability Community Strategy and will contribute to its achievement in a variety of ways.
One of the four overarching priorities for the PCT is to make tangible and measurable improvements in the overall health of Island people. Improving health, emotional wellbeing and life expectancy will make a significant contribution to the Eco Island vision.
People’s lifestyle and the environment in which they live and work can affect health. While each person is responsible for their own lifestyle, it is now known that social and financial factors - often beyond the individual’s control - influence health. A key challenge for the PCT in improving the populations’ health will be to lead and influence others toward achieving conditions which support improved health.
Public Health, through Health Improvement services, will aspire to work towards better health and increased well-being for everyone on the Isle of Wight. This will need to be achieved by engaging with local communities to tackle inequalities and promote equality. It will also mean working jointly with all other key partners, to develop services that are more personal to individuals and provide services closer to home; increase capacity to build closer integration of health, social care and other services, and help people to stay as healthy and as independent as possible.
The PCT is the second largest employer, behind the Council, on the Isle of Wight. It has a responsibility to promote and provide active encouragement on the values of Eco Island to its staff. A plan will be developed to do this and implemented over the period of this strategy.
The PCT has targets for the reduction of carbon emissions and improvement in its energy management. Services are provided from a total of 31 sites, although 82% of the carbon emissions originate from the St Mary’s Hospital site. The PCT plans to use capital expenditure on a range of projects which will improve its energy management. A bid has been made to the Department of Health Energy and Sustainability Fund.
In 2008 the PCT will appoint to a new post of Energy Manager who will contribute to raising awareness of energy expenditure and implementing energy management projects.
As a commissioner the PCT has included reducing the carbon footprint of providers in service level agreements now for 2008-09 and as a local target in its Operational Plan for 2008/09.
The PCT will also approve a Procurement Strategy in 2008 for the following three years. This supports ethical purchasing and the procurement of environmentally friendly products where possible, ensuring local suppliers are not disadvantaged and supporting a sustainable community on the Isle of Wight.
The PCT will develop a Green Transport Plan, working in partnership with the Council, and implement improvements in the management of its transport fleet which will have both economic and environmental benefits.
More information about the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust can be found on the PCT website which can be found by clicking here.
