Current thoughtS
 The Future of Primary Care: Meeting the challenges of the new NHS market
Lewis R & Dixon J. (2005). Kings Fund.
The New General Practice Contract and Reform of Primary Care in the United Kingdom
Peckham S. (2007). Healthcare Policy/Politiques de Santé, 2(4): 34-48.
Devolving Policy, Diverging Values?
Greer S & Rowland D. (2008). Nuffield Trust.
Payment for performance in health care
Mannion R & Davies H. (2008). BMJ 336: 306-308.
Devolution and Health
Jervis P. (2008). Nuffield Trust.
P4P: Performing For Pay In UK Primary Care
Guthrie B. (2007). Health Affairs: The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere. HA Blog August 2nd 2007.
Competition & Collaboration Series Report: Clinically Integrated Systems
Ham C. (2007). Nuffield Trust.
Managing change: general practice and the transformation of primary care
Frusher T. (2006). Health Policy Review Winter 2006.
Practice-led Commissioning: Harnessing the power of the primary care frontline
Lewis R. (2004). Kings Fund.
Healthy Democracy: The future of involvement in Health and Social Care
Andersson E, Tritter J, et al. (2006). Involve and NHS National Centre for Involvement.
Patient Engagement and Patient Decision-Making in England
Cayton H. (2004). The Commonwealth Fund.
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Overview
The UK health system, the National Health Service (NHS) is funded through taxation to provide free primary
health care services to all UK permanent residents.
The English Department of Health takes responsibility for UK wide issues but responsibility for healthcare has
been devolved to each of the constituent countries which are adapting the NHS model to local preferences and circumstances.
Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) administer NHS health care organisations in their local area. The role of the SHAs includes planning and improving health services in an area, monitoring performance, increasing service capacity and integrating national health priorities into local health service plans. Within each SHA, the NHS is split into Trusts of different types which take responsibility for planning and running different types of health services.
One type of trust is a Primary Care Trust (PCT). PCTs were set up in 2002 and now control 80% of the NHS budget. PCTs serve approximately 200,000 registered patients within defined geographic boundaries, and work locally to provide appropriate health and social care for their community. The services include general practice, NHS Walk-in Centres (staffed by nurses), out of hours Commuter Clinics, NHS Direct telephone and internet health advice, optometry, pharmacy and more.
Rather than providing remuneration to individual practitioners, funding is provided at the practice level. The PCTs contract general practices, which are independent businesses, to provide services for NHS patients who are enrolled with the practice.
More information on the UK Health System
NHS Website: About the NHS
UK Department of Health Primary Health Care Website
Health Policy Monitor
PCT and SHA roles and functions UK Department of Health. (2006).
European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies WHO Regional Office for Europe. (2008).
NHS Wales website: Introduction to NHS Wales
NHS Scotland Website
Website: GP Allocation: Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. (2008).
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