For information and discussion SUPPORTING HEALTH IMPROVEMENT IN PRIMARY CARE

Delivering for Health comprises the Government’s response to the Kerr Report and involves:-targeting health improvement action and resources at the most disadvantaged areas building capacity in primary care to deliver proactive, preventive care providing early interventions to prevent escalation of health care needs The approach is to be piloted in 2006/7 by the Prevention 2010 initiative. Summary This paper provides relevant information concerning:-the contribution of primary care to health improvement the essential features of anticipatory care the main barriers to anticipatory care in deprived areas The paper argues that in addition to carefully targeted and evaluated interventions, providing additional resource to support health improvement activities in primary care (i.e. Prevention 2010), there is a need for three parallel programmes of activity:-New support systems, and re-direction and co-ordination of existing support systems, to put practices serving deprived populations at the centre of NHS efforts to improve health and reduce inequality Research to inform policy and practice on the best use of additional resource, changing skill-mix, small practices, co-morbidity and public, patient and professional expectations Professional development opportunities to support health improvement and primary care development in deprived area