The Postgraduate Medical Journal continues to review the implications and consequences of providing specialist healthcare services in the community. In the January issue, the political imperatives for changing the nature of healthcare delivery in the UK were set out.^1–6

In this issue, we focus on what it might mean for the profession. Dr Mary Armitage, of the Royal College of Physicians, describes how all healthcare workers delivering specialist services in the community must work to agreed national standards of practice. The need for training programmes to achieve these specialist competencies is emphasised. Professor Mayur Lakhani, of the Royal College of General Practitioners, explores the interface between generalists and specialists and considers the relationship between consultants and general practitioners is one of the most pressing questions in the National Health Service today. He believes the reconfiguration of health services demands a sound education and training strategy and that new training models will emerge where trainees move seamlessly between what are currently defined as primary and secondary care.