ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the central themes that the authors and contributors have highlighted as salient to the provision of collaborative care in primary health. Fundamentally, the reason to engage with a discussion on best collaborative care is only important if it improves the lot of both patients and health and social care workers. Issues of space and context are relevant to the quality of care delivered in primary care. They are also relevant to the provision of education and formation of professional identity. Historically leadership in primary care has been a hierarchical structure where the general practitioner who was the owner of the practice was the nominated leader who made both clinical and business decisions. Recruitment and retention of the workforce into primary care is a challenge facing all healthcare systems across the globe. UK healthcare policies are keen to build upon the model of general practice with its list-based capitated funding model to develop integrated care systems.
