Primary care
Primary care services provide the first point of contact in the healthcare system, acting as the ‘front door’ of the NHS. Primary care includes general practice, community pharmacy, dental, and optometry (eye health) services.
For generations, primary care has been at the heart of our communities. Health visitors, community and district nurses, GPs, dentists, pharmacists, opticians, and social care workers are among the most recognisable of a multitude of dedicated staff delivering care around the clock in every neighbourhood in the country.
Every day, more than a million people benefit from the advice and support of primary care professionals – acting as a first point of contact for most people accessing the NHS and also providing an ongoing relationship to those who need it. This enduring connection to people is what makes primary care so valued by the communities it serves.