Primary care is currently going through a period of substantial change. The high profile alteration of structures is occurring at a time when many issues of practice are presenting new or renewed challenges. These are issues grounded in the complexities and dissatisfactions of contemporary society as well as in the changing policy context.

This book has been produced in order to bring together critical and thought-provoking pieces on these wide-ranging challenges, by authors from an equally wide range of disciplines, including anthropology, clinical psychology, disability studies, public health, sociology, as well as general practice.

Beginning with a think piece on the nature of primary care and what an emerging vision for it might look like, the book continues with contributions on the changing form, organization and delivery of primary health care, before going on to examine specific areas of provision and some significant research issues. The book will be of interest to all those involved in the study or development of primary health care services.

Philip Tovey is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Primary Care, University of Leeds. He has published widely in the sociological study of education and health. His current research interests include the psychological consequences of interventions and the re-configuration of primary care.