A CHANGE of name by Bolton’s health service is costing the organisation £7,000.

Bolton Primary Care Trust, which runs all of the borough’s health centres, has rebranded itself as NHS Bolton.

Bosses said the move was made to help people better understand what the organisation is and what services it performs. The main cost of the rebranding exercise will be the replacement of signs in and outside health centres, which will cost an estimated £4,500 over the next three years.

Further sign replacement at other buildings, including St Peter’s House, Huntingdon House, Leverhulme Sports Centre and the PCT Library will cost an estimated £2,500.

Plans to spend another £4,000 on new ID badges for staff have been put on hold.

A PCT spokesman said the legal name of the organisation would still be Bolton Primary Care Trust, but the NHS Bolton brand would be used in all communication.

A PCT public board meeting report said: “The public have little awareness or understanding of the role of a PCT, or of the term ‘primary care’, which in itself does not describe the work of the PCT.

“While views on the proposal have not been sought from the public, it is hoped the new branding will more strongly identify the organisation in the public mind with the NHS.