The Application of a Social Health Perspective: A Shared Social Worker-Doctor Responsibility

Abstract

The potential for general practitioners and social workers to work in close liaison in primary health care depends on their developing and sharing a social health perspective. The articulation of that perspective which includes questions about health and social class is a social worker's responsibility. The realisation of doctor-social worker collaboration also depends on solving various structural problems associated with the provision of salaries for social workers and the ability to anticipate political developments such as the arrival of Health Maintenance Organisations.