Abstract

Remodelling the kitchen won't help the house with a weak foundation. The same holds truth in healthcare. We cannot solve quality and access problems or deal effectively with wait times unless primary healthcare - the foundation of the system - is solid. That is why the First Ministers' 2003 Healthcare Renewal Accord identifies it as the cornerstone of tomorrow's healthcare system. But progress is slow, and the foundation is creaking under the strain of even greater pressures.