Caring for the future.

We live in a time of massive change. Primary care is no exception. Having practised in a relatively stable structure since 1948, general practitioners have been affected in the past five years by various government initiatives. 1-8 One thing is certain, the general practitioner is no longer going to be left to practise independently and in isolation. The demand is for accountability -to patients with needs, to a profession dedicated to assuring quality, and to a society which sets targets for effective and efficient care, where possible justified by research. The three areas of accountability are interrelated and the key to satisfying them is partnership.