ABSTRACT
Th e clinical complex is the engine room of chronic illness care. It encompasses all clinicians, allied health professionals (AHPs), clinical teams and their enabling managers, whether in hospitals or community based, who contribute to the care of
people with long-term conditions. Th e World Health Organization (WHO) paradigm change has highlighted the key contribution of primary care and that is why this chapter begins with the role and methodology of general practice and how it relates to the acute (hospital) sector. Clinicians within the NHS will know much of this, having survived through the policy developments of the past decade. Students and trainees, and clinicians from elsewhere, may welcome the quasi-textbook approach that emphasises explanation and defi nition of terms, with some international comparisons. However, the chief reason behind this description of general practice is to demonstrate its relevance, track record and potential in chronic care. For ease of navigation by readers this chapter is divided into two parts. Th e narrative is in Part One. Part Two presents developments in service delivery, notably in IT, integration and commissioning of care. It concludes with some key universal themes that all clinicians will recognise: quality, governance, safety and evidence-based practice.
