Practical public health in a primary care setting

Abstract

Investigates a mechanism for delivering public health advice in a primary care setting--three West Yorkshire general practices--by seconding a public health physician (PHP) to each practice for six months, each practice receiving one day per week. Describes how the topics to be addressed--developing a practice plan for managing information; improving services available for Asian patients; and exploring "value for money" in fundholding--were chosen. Details the procedures and lists the main outcomes. Concludes that placing a public health physician in practices may not be the optimal approach for transferring public health knowledge, but topics important to the practice lend themselves to such an intervention, with potential long-term benefit for public health and primary care.