Why tomorrow's doctors need primary care today

Generations of medical students have received the majority of their clinical education in hospitals.This fosters an impression that healthcare happens in hospitals which rescue patients from primary care and surrender them back when their care is complete. In reality, the majority of healthcare has always been delivered in primary care and the community. For most people this continuing care from general medical practitioners and their colleagues is only rarely interrupted by hospital contacts. The current emphasis on providing care close to patients' homes recognizes this reality and is driving huge change in healthcare and the medical profession. Medical education must change quickly to respond to these challenges. As we look again at the education of tomorrow's doctors we ask whether the profession, its executive bodies and those who hold the pursestrings have the will to challenge current mindsets and shift funding to allow primary care to achieve its potential in integrated medical curricula in equal partnership with secondary care.