This innovative and timely book draws on pioneering precedents, basic principles, current examples and international experience to capture the narratives, examples and ideas that underlie and demonstrate the exceptional potential of general practice: "If health care is not at is best where it is needed most, health inequalities will widen." "The unworried unwell are not hard to reach but they are easy to ignore and are often ignored." "With patient contact, population coverage, continuity, coordination, flexibility, long term relationships and trust, general practices are the natural hubs of local health systems." "... practitioners ... are not only scientists but also responsible citizens and if they did not raise their voice who else should?" Written for family doctors looking to strengthen local collaboration, it brings together the traditional strengths of consultations, caring, continuity, coordination and coverage with the current and future challenges of building capacity, community, creativity, consistency, collegiality and campaigning. It highlights the critical importance of working with patients, maximising the use of serial encounters, integrating care, joint working between practices, social prescribing, community development and advocacy based on patient and practitioner experience. Drawing on the highly-regarded work of Deep End GPs serving the poorest communities in Scotland ̶ www.gla.ac.uk/deepend ̶ the book is an invaluable handbook for all primary care doctors, irrespective of health care system or country, seeking to provide unconditional continuity of personalised care for all patients, whatever problem or combination of problems a patient may have.

Deep End practices are at the front line of the NHS in addressing the health and problems of severely deprived communities. The experiences and views of GPs serving the 100 most deprived practice populations in Scotland are presented.

This unique work represents the recording and analysis of oral history interviews conducted by the pioneering general practitioner Dr Hetty Ockrim with over seventy patients, as well as office staff and members of the nursing team, between 1989 and 1992 in her former practice in the Ibrox/Govan areas of Glasgow, places of significant socio-economic deprivation. Her focus in undertaking this study was on personal and social, rather than just clinical, issues. The interviews are accompanied by background and commentary for the study, reflecting the full breadth of general practice. Many of the interviewees had memories stretching back before the NHS, providing a unique historical perspective of service development, as well as invaluable directions for improving current and future general practice. Key Features Provides a historical context for the developments in health over several decades prior to the study Shows how oral history methods have increasingly been used in medical history research and explores the benefits of this approach Covers many of the themes of the oral history which enabled and encouraged patients to comment on what was important to them in their encounters with health care Follows the increasing acceptance of women in medicine, demonstrating how women doctors were viewed by patients within the practice compared to changes in wider society Presents a ‘history from below’, using voices that are not normally heard in the medical discourse, illustrating the importance of the doctor–patient interface Supporting a wider understanding of what patient narratives can tell us about the delivery of health care from the perspective of the patients, the front-line users of health services, the book show how oral history can provide an understanding of health care more broadly, key at a time when social inequality is once again widening in many regions.

Generalism is a key approach to healthcare organisation and delivery that enables person-centred, dynamic and cost-effective patient care. With its emphasis on adaptability, generalism requires expansive, nurturing and personalised approaches to clinical education in which a generalist attends to and explores patient priorities when problem-setting and co-creating management plans. Generalism in Clinical Practice and Education outlines a generalist philosophy of practice which is brought to life through interleaved examples. Written by a range of international clinicians, patients and academics this book does not prescribe one ‘right’ way to do generalism. Rather, it seeks to inspire readers’ future engagement with generalism in practice and learning through sharing underpinning concepts, values and principles. This ‘big picture’ attention to generalism across public health, social determinants of health and clinical care is at the heart of sustainable and efficient use of resources to prioritise those in need. The book explores four key principles which in practice aim to achieve creative, inclusive and agile approaches to clinical care. The goal is to support generalism in clinical practice and education, and to produce clinical practitioners and learners that enjoy, embrace and enhance future clinical care.

The effective delivery of primary care requires the good working of a multi-professional team who provide that care. This accessible and concise text explores the ways in which primary care teams can collaborate well to advance the quality of clinical care and enhance collaborative working across the healthcare system as a whole. Taking a workbook approach, and including examples, narratives, case histories and further reading, Collaborative Practice in Primary and Community Care brings together theory and good practice to offer the reader viable models for achieving excellence. Addressing specific challenges to practising collaboratively throughout, it contains chapters exploring the contemporary context of primary care, collaboration with patients, collaboration between different professional groups, collaboration amongst organisations, and the respective roles of education and technology in promoting collaboration. Written by a multi-professional selection of experienced authors, practitioners and educators, this textbook is designed for a wide audience of healthcare professionals with an interest in primary care.

Social Work and Integrated Care draws on the latest research, practice and theory to explore integration within both child and adult services. Although all the home nations in the UK view integrated care as a top priority within health and social care policy, many people continue to experience fragmented care. This book sets out the case for integration, considers the evidence of its impact, and discusses the implementation challenges that must be overcome. Packed full of current examples of integration, from across the UK and internationally, and reflexive exercises which highlight practice issues for social workers, it provides the following key learning outcomes: • An understanding of what is meant by integrated care and why it is seen as vital to a modern health and social system. • A knowledge of the expected impacts in relation to improving the experience and outcomes for individuals and their families, addressing inequalities and promoting health and wellbeing and increasing financial efficiency. • A recognition of the common barriers to integrated care and what such fragmentation can mean for individuals and their families. • A critical review of key approaches to promote integration and their practical implementation. • Reflection on the potential contribution of social workers and their own collaborative practice. Providing a comprehensive and accessible overview of integrated care policies and practice, this book will help prepare social workers for the realities of collaborating with other professions and services. It should be considered essential reading for students undertaking their professional qualification and those who are in practice who are looking to improve their ability to collaborate.

Heirs of General Practice is a frieze of glimpses of young doctors with patients of every age—about a dozen physicians in all, who belong to the new medical specialty called family practice. They are people who have addressed themselves to a need for a unifying generalism in a world that has become greatly subdivided by specialization, physicians who work with the "unquantifiable idea that a doctor who treats your grandmother, your father, your niece, and your daughter will be more adroit in treating you." These young men and women are seen in their examining rooms in various rural communities in Maine, but Maine is only the example. Their medical objectives, their successes, the professional obstacles they do and do not overcome are representative of any place family practitioners are working. While essential medical background is provided, McPhee's masterful approach to a trend significant to all of us is replete with affecting, and often amusing, stories about both doctors and their charges.