Family doctors and nurses in the Ongar and North Weald district are to act as pioneers in a far-reaching Health care revolution.

They will usher in what has been described as an era of "high touch, low tech" care in the National Health Service.

For Epping Forest Primary Care Group has been chosen to be among only 13 nationwide to be granted trust status by the Government.

The major shake-up in April is expected to bring significant improvements for the 110,000 people in the new Primary Care Trust's area which has 20 practices containing 57 GPs.

Ministers expect that by giving local doctors and nurses greater power and financial control, a more caring and convenient service will be delivered. Health Minister John Denham said: "They see 90 per cent of all NHS patients and by shifting power to primary care we've got a very powerful driver to reshape the NHS.

"I'm delighted Epping Forest PCG is set to become one of the pioneering PCTs. I've studied their plans and know they're at the forefront of working in new ways to provide modern, accessible health services.

"I'm confident local people will see real benefits from having their local NHS led by local doctors and nurses who really understand their needs."

Key changes expected in Ongar and North Weald are improving services for the elderly and making services such as physiotherapy more available nearer people's homes.

The new trust is to introduce clinics for dealing with digestive problems and introduce training in diabetes so GPs can take over the care of patients from consultants.

Dr Rory McCrea, chairman of the present PCG, said: "GP practices have been isolated from each other and from pharmacists, optometrists and district nurses.

''There has been very little contact with social services and none with the local authority.

"Trust status will give an unrivalled opportunity for local doctors, nurses and other health workers and, above all, local people to shape services and provide better health care."

Epping Forest was selected from among 481 primary care groups throughout England which have been working towards trust status for the last year.

It will have a £61million budget and will own the 42 bed St Margaret's community hospital in Epping. The trust plans to appoint a chief executive and a finance director and may seek a clinical director.

They will be answerable to a board comprising five lay members and four health professionals.

PCG chief executive Aidan Thomas said: "People delivering health care in the community will be employed in the community and health, the district council and social services can work together to provide integrated services."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.