ABSTRACT
In this chapter I will attempt to assess the need for social care in primary health care. I make the distinction between primary care and primary health care because, in my view, all services to which the public has direct access should be regarded as ‘primary’. The definition of ‘primary care’ given by Wilkin et al. (1997) serves to illustrate the difference. They define primary care as ‘the provision of first contact and continuing care in the community for patients undifferentiated by age, sex or disease. It is characterised by generalist health care professionals. It includes general medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing and a range of other community services, as well as their relations with informal (family and community) care, hospitals and social care’.
