THE massive shake-up in NHS funding announced by the Government has received a mixed reaction from healthcare professionals and politicians in North Yorkshire.

Fears of huge job losses in primary care trusts (PCTs) and accusations of “back-door privatisation” have greeted Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s decision to hand responsibility for billions in health funding to local GP groups – spelling the end of PCTs.

NHS North Yorkshire and York, which faces elimination under the plans, declined to comment on the possible loss of nearly 1,000 jobs.

However, York doctor John Lethem, of the GPs organisation York Health Group (YHG), said the expertise to be found in the PCT should not be lost.

He said: “It’s going to be extremely hard work and there will be important decisions to be made.

“I value the expertise the PCT has and I wouldn’t want to see them just disappear.”

However, he said: “While we (local doctors) have worked very well with all health-care stakeholders, we feel that in time we will be mature enough and organised enough to tackle these very important changes.”

Meanwhile, a gulf is emerging among members of City of York Council on the issue.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, deputy leader of the Labour Group, said: “The changes proposed in the White Paper are basically the start of the dismantling of the National Health Service and expectation that others will pick up the work of organisations such as the PCT without extra funding.

“During the 1980s and 90s the Tory Government sold off the country.

“Now they are at it again, even though David Cameron said the NHS would be safe in his hands and there would be no more top-down changes.”

Coun Ian Gillies, leader of the Conservative group on City of York Council, said: “Layers of plutocracy introduced by the Labour Government, are being dismantled, and decisions affecting patients are to be made by professional doctors, and not politicians or administrators.”