The first two chapters review the historical background of primary care and the organisational changes ... Read morethat have occurred in the last two decades. The following four chapters deal more closely with professional and service issues arising from the various policy changes. The next three chapters discuss a number of novel approaches to the promotion of efficient care giving, and how the patient is increasingly an active partner in, rather than a passive recipient of, such innovations.

Taking up an issue arising from earlier chapters, the concluding chapter considers the impact of a changing health service on the educational needs of primary health care professionals, using GP education as an exemplar.