ABSTRACT
The Lyme Community Care Unit is a primary managed care agency committed to utilizing the available resources to the benefit of the community. Lyme Regis lies at the far south-western tip of Dorset, with a community that extends across the boundary into east Devon. The locality, consisting of approximately 8000 patients, is served by two general practices. The Lyme Community Care Unit accordingly developed a business plan which postulated that it was necessary to develop a strong, comprehensive and motivated primary care agency which incorporated both health and social care professionals working together with the citizens. The twin pillars of gate-keeping to specialist services and generic working mean that most of people in the United Kingdom feel confident in the relationship which they have developed with their general practice. The Unit acts as purchasing agent for the two authorities and all contracts are negotiated and monitored through own team.
