NHS Sussex is a PCT Cluster organisation which is:

• overseeing the commissioning (buying) and performance of health services in the county; and
• preparing the way for the move to GP-led commissioning from April 2013 as outlined in Government plans for the NHS .

Before NHS Sussex was created in April 2011, commissioning and performance management were among the tasks carried out by the four Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) covering Sussex:

• NHS Brighton and Hove
• NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald
• NHS Hastings and Rother
• NHS West Sussex

These organisations still exist (until 31 March 2013) and will hold Annual General Meetings where they can be held accountable for how their budget has been spent.

In the meantime they have delegated responsibility for their work to NHS Sussex. NHS Sussex and the Primary Care Trusts share a Board of Directors and have a single management team.