Policy and profession: Elite perspectives on redefining general practice in Australia and England

Abstract

Objectives: To understand how general (family) practice is being redefined and is redefining itself, from the perspective of policy elites, and to build an analytical framework. Methods: Politicians, senior bureaucrats and executives of professional organisations were interviewed (1998-2000) about the impact of general practice reforms on the profession. The information gathered was thematically coded and used to advance an understanding of profession from an elite perspective. Results: Four main aspects of profession were discussed by interviewees. These were cultural authority, profession's authority, social authority and professional autonomy. The elites interviewed reported a potential c..