Consultations in the UK take place in a primary care setting – this amounts to one million consultations per working day. It's no wonder then that the Dept of Health should be committed to the primary care sector. And it's going to become increasingly important, Dr Colin-Thomé told Synapse.

"The future of generalists is very safe." stated Dr Colin-Thomé, "More than ever, people need good quality primary care services to provide their care and a key person to support them, and act as a navigator and interpreter of how the various services can help."

"We may see a shift towards working to a shared care model where the consultant is used as exactly that, a consultant, rather an alternative care provider. So it is only at the very complex end of the patient spectrum that a consultant may be the key clinical carer."

"Since people with multiple medical problems often need time-intensive support, this may be better provided by a case manager such as a community matron who would work with the GP. For others with less complex difficulties, however, the GP may be the most appropriate key worker to fit the work around their other responsibilities."

Synapse is a new neurology magazine for those working in primary care. It features news on the latest medical advances and policy developments, information on best practice initiatives, and conference reports as well as expertise from secondary care.

• Further information can be found by clicking on the Synapse section of the Oyster website under "Magazines".

Oyster Healthcare Communications is a specialist medical publisher, which produces high quality medical publications including a range of quarterly magazines and journals. Oyster also publishes news services, conference reports, CD-ROMs, and PCT disease management and prescribing guidelines and medicines management projects.