Why GP continuity of care matters - and how practices can deliver it

Emma speaks to Dr Luke Sayers, a GP partner and the project lead for continuity of care at North East and North Cumbria ICB, and Dr Tom Kennedy, a GP registrar and ICB clinical fellow, about the importance of continuity of care.

Luke and Tom explain why continuity is so vital for both patients and doctors, discussing the evidence that shows it improves patient safety and reduces mortality, as well as the positive impact it has on GP job satisfaction and retention.

They discuss the misconception that focusing on continuity negatively impacts access, and they explain why the reverse is often true. They also set out practical steps practices can take to improve and measure continuity, including the use of micro-teams and personal lists, and how this way of working fits into the vision of a neighbourhood NHS.

This episode was presented by GPonline editor Emma Bower. It was produced by Czarina Deen.

Useful links

Building relational continuity of care in your practice - the poster Luke presented at the RCGP annual conference this year

What makes general practice work: the role of continuity in efficient and sustainable primary care - the BJGP paper by Professor Tom Marshall that Luke mentions in this episode

Continuity Counts website, which Tom mentions in this interview

Value of GP continuity risks 'slipping from collective memory' - story about the RCGP talk that Emma mentions (on GPonline)

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