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This article presents and reviews the evidence from a pilot project in the North of England in which a social worker was based in a surgery and worked proactively with a district nurse to introduce an integrated case management approach for patients in the practice. Decision‐making was noticeably simplified and speeded up, with most assessments completed in a single day. The authors recommend that PCTs should consider the benefits of social care input to case management, especially when planning new services and new roles such as that of community matron.

Postal questionnaires are increasingly being used to gather health and research information. Various techniques have been shown to increase the response rate. This study used several of these techniques and also benefited from close working with general practitioners and their practices. Cross‐checking address and age against practice records reduced the number of wasted invitations to participants. The GP signature on the letter personally inviting patients to participate contributed to a response rate of 83%. Researchers carrying out postal questionnaire studies will benefit from engaging with primary care.