Primary care groups - Modernising primary and community health services

Developing primary and community health services is a key component of the government's plans for modernising the NHS. Primary care groups and trusts have a vital part to play in overcoming the variability, fragmentation, and isolation that have been the weaknesses of primary health care in the NHS. Primary care groups and trusts have introduced initiatives to promote greater collaboration between general practices and to share expertise and resources. Improving access to care is an important feature of the modernisation plan, and most groups and trusts are actively promoting access, particularly for people who have been poorly served traditionally. Groups and trusts are tackling staff shortages by using clinical specialists and promoting extended roles for nurses and pharmacists