Screening elderly people: a review of the literature in the light of the new general practitioner contract.

There is a considerable volume of literature on the needs of elderly people, derived from both the medical and social sciences. This article reviews material relevant to preventive care and the best ways of arranging it, with particular reference to the developments as a result of the new general practitioner contract. It is argued that although the new contract disregards much of the medical research, there are still some benefits to be gained by applying research findings within the new framework, as well as by reviewing its operation in the light of research and experience currently available.