Clinical leadership in primary care

Abstract

The article explores the concept of clinical leadership in primary health care. The definition of clinical leadership is wide-ranging but clearly relates to the leadership for clinical practice. In this article the focus of clinical leadership is on the improvement of patient care – safe, efficient, effective and person-centred care. The need for good clinical leadership has never been more important. With the major shifts in the UK health and social care policy agendas, clinical leaders will be working towards policy development, implementation and evaluation. However, clinical leadership does not only relate to the policy drivers (as important as these are), but to the (perhaps) less well-defined aspects of service and role developments that in themselves will enhance patient care. The development of the skills and attributes of clinical leadership is key to the continued enhancement and development of primary health care practice. The article points you to relevant resources and asks you to reflect on your own leadership in clinical practice, so that you can consider the aspects that you may wish to further develop.