The 'modernization' of the NHS is at the heart of the UK government's policies for public sector services. This modernization programme represents the most radical and ambitious restructuring of the NHS since its inception in 1948. The new Primary Care Groups and Trusts (PCG/Ts) are the main organizational mechanism for delivering the modernization agenda and are therefore key to the success or otherwise of these reforms. To date there has been no comprehensive evaluation of how PCG/Ts have been performing in implementing the modernization programme; this book fills that important gap in knowledge. It provides a strong text of first evidence about the performance of PCG/Ts to date; this forms the basis for discussions about future success and a benchmark for future research.

The New Primary Care will be an essential resource for all advanced students of health care as well as academics, researchers and policy makers.