Local health care cooperatives

In Scotland, 1999 may be remembered as the year of devolution. For those working in primary health care, it will be remembered as the year of evolution. Heralded by the White Paper, Designed to Care (Scottish Office Department of Health (SODoH), 1997), April marked the start of the move into locally-led health care. The rationalizing of trusts has been an exercise in expediency, whereas the launch of the local health care cooperative (LHCC) will see the evolution of locally-led health services.