Abstract

I wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance, support and encouragement given to me in this research project by the people and organisations listed below: My husband, Guohua, for being patient with me, for being my first reader, for his great help with my English writing and for his advice and criticism; My children, Jingwen and Luoying, for their strong and loving support; The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust and GlaxoSmithKline for their grant and the Faculty of Health and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University for the three-year studentship they awarded me to make this PhD possible; Cambridge City Primary Care Trust for endorsing my research in the PCT; Maggie Appleby, my practice supervisor, for her constructive suggestions, advice and support; Professor J Secker for her interest, advice, encouragement and critical readings; My supervisors, Professor Diane DeBell and especially Dr Sarah Burch, for their advice and constructive criticism; The fifteen staff members of the integration programme and seven managers and staff members of the two integrated locality teams who kindly participated in my interviews; Lastly, but not the least, the 102 service users who participated in the research. Without the assistance, encouragement and support of all of the people above, I would not have been able to complete this thesis. II