A NEW era in health care has begun with the formation of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).

The new organisations took over from Primary Care Groups (PCGs) on April 1.

Sedgefield PCT holds its first board meeting, chaired by Alan Gray, this afternoon at the Pioneering Care Centre, Burn Lane, Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Gray, from Newton Aycliffe, has had 21 years' experience of working with the NHS.

He has been a member of South West Durham Community Health Council, the former South West Durham Health Authority and a non-executive director of Bishop Auckland Hospital Trust.

He will work alongside chief executive Nigel Porter on the new board of directors.

Although a member of Great Aycliffe Town Council and Sedgefield Borough Council, Mr Gray stressed his appointment was a non-political one.

He said: "The PCG we succeed has been there for some years now, but they haven't had their own budget or control over their own premises and they haven't been able to employ their own staff.

"Now we have become our own organisers, with our own budget and ability to employ our own staff.

"We will have control over the resources in determining how and where they are used to meet the needs of the people of Sedgefield."

The new chief executive of the Darlington PCT is Colin Morris. Until last month he was the town's director of social services. He said: "We will run a lot of the community services, including district and health nursing staff."

Of his former social services role, he said: "We share so much of the same sort of business that in some senses the demarcation line is artificial."

The chairman is Sandra Pollard, who served on Darlington's old PCG from its inception. Mrs Pollard has lived in the Darlington area for over 30 years. She is an art historian and tutor for Leeds University and the Open University. She recently retired from nearly 30 years working for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children .

She said: "It is said that within one year, PCTs will control 70pc of the NHS budget."

Both PCTs have web sites: www.sedgefield-pct.nhs.uk and www.darlington-pct.nhs.uk