No assessment has been made centrally of the costs and benefits of general practitioners (GPs) with special interests. It is for local health commissioners, both primary care trusts and practice-based commissioners, to determine which local services - including services provided by GPs with a special interest will best meet the needs of their local populations within the resources available to them, and to fund these services accordingly. The development of GPs with special interests has expanded the range of options available to local commissioners.