Policy@Manchester, The University of Manchester’s policy engagement unit, recently released their latest publication On Primary Care: General Practice, Pharmacy, Workforce.

This volume features eight articles by leading researchers from the University’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, which identify the challenges and opportunities facing policymakers and practitioners in the UK primary care sector.

The publication focuses on three specific aspects of primary care policy, with separate sections on general practice, pharmacy, and workforce. Authors discuss recent developments in primary care policy, including the roll-out of Primary Care Networks and Integrated Care Systems, the recent Community Pharmacy Framework Contract, and the drive to diversify ‘skills mix’ in general practice through the introduction of new professional roles.

Following on from the launch, Policy@Manchester have held a series of engagement events for policymakers and practitioners with professional interests in primary care, including detailed roundtable discussions based around each of the publications three main themes.

In addition, a post-publication introduction to the volume offers initial reflections from the authors on the impact of COVID-19 on the primary care sector in general.

Both documents are available for download from Policy@Manchester’s website.

Policy@Manchester is a small, specialist team dedicated to ensuring that the world-leading research conducted at The University of Manchester is being used at local, national, and international decision-makers in their efforts to create and scrutinise public policy.

Find out more about Policy@Manchester’s work.