A Practical Guide to Primary Care Groups and Trusts

Part 1 Theory: ethics, rationing and the NHS; why public involvement must be the heart of primary care; health economics and PCGs; quality indicators for primary care. Part 2 Functions: improving health - making health improvement programmes work; PCGs commissioning services within the new culture of co-operation and pathways - the role of long-term service agreements; primary care 1 -clinical governance in primary care; primary care 2 - primary care investment plans; managing human resources in PCGs. Part 3 People: the PCG chair - role and responsibilities; the PCG chair - a personal experience; the role of the PCG clinical governance lead; the role of a GP member of a PCG board; the role of the nurse representative; the role of the social services representative; the role of the lay member; the role of the pharmacist; the role of the chief officer. Part 4 Getting it right: how to involve patients and the local community; how to involve primary care professionals; how to develop intermediate care; how to develop a PCG communication strategy and how to involve the media; how to develop an information and IT strategy; how to keep within budget. Part 5 The future: towards PCT status; the view after the first fence.