Spectre at the feast

The government's vision, reflected in both the white paper The New NHS: Modern, Dependable (Department of Health, 1997) and circulars since is of GPs and community nurses working together in primary care groups to shape services for patients. But the short history of PCGs has seen nurses having to fight for representation. There is also cynicism about the outcome, nurses having a maximum of two members, GPs seven. Is an equal working relationship really possible? This snapshot survey examines professionalism and collaborative working in primary care. The results suggest that without changes in structure, understanding and attitudes by both doctors and nurses a relationship of equality is not likely.