Skip to main content
Log in

What is primary care? Developments in Britain since the 1960s

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Health Care Analysis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since 1994, health policy in the UK has focused explicitly on making the NHS ‘primary care-led’. However, the meaning of primary is contested by different health professions and by policy-makers. This paper charts the major points of debate since the 1960s and suggests that there are limitations as to what general practice can be expected to deliver in respect of primary care.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. EL (1994) 79,Towards a Primary Care-Led NHS, Department of Health.

  2. Cm. 3807 (1997).The New NHS, The Stationery Office, London, para. 2.7.

  3. Ibid., para. 3.6.

  4. See, for example, Burn, J. L. (1971). New horizons in team-work.Practitioner 206, 801–806; Pritchard, P. (1978).Manual of Primary Health Care: Its Nature and Organization, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pollock, A.A. and Majeer, F. (1995). Community oriented primary care.British Medical Journal 310, 481–482.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. See also, Boaden, N. (1997).Primary Care. Making Connections, Open University Press, Buckingham.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Wiles, R. and Robison, J. (1994). Teamwork in primary care: the views and experiences of nurses, midwives and health visitors.Journal of Advanced Nursing 20, 324–330.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Audit Commission (1992).Homeward Bound: A New Course of Community Health, HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hicks, D. (1976).Primary Health Care: A Review, DHSS, London.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Starfield, B. (1994). Is primary care essential?The Lancet 344, 1129–1132.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Horder, J. (1985). The balance between primary and secondary care—a personal view.Health Trends 17, 64–68.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Reedy, B.L.E.C. (1977). The health team. In,Trends in General Practice, ed. by J. Fry, BMJ for the RCGP, London.

    Google Scholar 

  13. For example, Editorial (1954). The GP and the health visitors.Public Health 67, 114.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jeffery, M. (1965).Anatomy of the Social Services, Michael Joseph, London.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Warin, J.F. (1968). General practitioners and nursing staff: a complete attachment scheme. I retrospect and prospect.British Medical Journal I, 41–45.

    Google Scholar 

  16. BMA Planning Unit (1970).Primary Medical Care, BMA, London.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cmnd. 5115 (1972).Report of the Committee on Nursing, HMSO, London.

  18. Hasler, J.C., Hemphill, P.M.R., Stewart, T.L., Boyle, N., Harris, A. and Palmer, E. (1968). Development of the nursing section of the community health team.British Medical Journal II, 734–736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Royal College of General Practitioners (1972).The Future General Practitioner. Learning and Teaching, RCGP, London.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Pritchard, P. op. cit.

  21. Morris, J.N. (1969). Tomorrow’s community physician.The Lancet II, 811–816; Titmuss, R.M. (1965). Role of the family doctor today in the context of Britain’s social services.The Lancet II, 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. DHSS (1971).Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped, HMSO, London; DHSS (1975).Better Services for the Mentally Ill, HMSO, London; DHSS (1976).Priorities for the Health and Personal Social Services in England: A Consultative Document, HMSO, London; DHSS (1978).A Happier Old Age, HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Passmore, R. (1979). The declaration of Alma Ata and the future of primary care.The Lancet II, 1005–1008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. London Health Planning Consortium (1981).Primary Health Care in Inner London, LHPC, London.

    Google Scholar 

  25. RCGP (1977). Evidence to the Royal Commission on the NHS.Journal of the Royal College of GPs 27, 200.

    Google Scholar 

  26. McLure, L.M. (1984). Teamwork, myth or reality: community nurses’ experience with general practice attachment.Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 34, 68–74.

    Google Scholar 

  27. For example, Baker, G., Bevan, J., McDonnell, L. and Wall, B. (1984).Developments in Community Nursing within Primary Health Care Teams, Health Services Research Unit, University of Kent.

  28. Royal College of Nursing (1977).Evidence to the Royal Commission on the National Health Service, RCN, London.

    Google Scholar 

  29. DHSS (1986).Neighbourhood Nursing—A Focus for Care, HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Cm. 249. (1987).Promoting Better Health. The Government’s Programme for Improving Primary Health Care, HMSO, London.

  31. Marks, L. (1987).Primary Health Care on the Agenda? A Discussion Document, King’s Fund, London; Marks, L. (1988).Promoting Better Health? An Analysis of the Government’s Programme for Primary Health Care, King’s Fund, London.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Royal College of Nursing (1987).Response to the Consultation of Primary Health Care, RCN, London.

    Google Scholar 

  33. DHSS (1988).Community Care: An Agenda for Action, HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  34. NHSME (1993).Nursing in Primary Health Care. New World, New Opportunities, HMSO, London.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lewis, J. and Glennerster, H. (1996).Implementing the New Community Care, Open University Press, Buckingham.

    Google Scholar 

  36. NHSE (1996).Primary Care: The Future, Department of Health, Leeds.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Hart, J.T. (1988).A New Kind of Doctor. The GP’s Part in the Health of the Community, Merlin Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewis, J. What is primary care? Developments in Britain since the 1960s. Health Care Anal 6, 324–329 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678371

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678371

Keywords

Navigation