End of the GP, because half of patients no longer go to the same GP, research shows
General practitioners are a thing of the past: only half of patients can always or even sometimes see the same GP, a study shows.
Critics describe the lack of continuity as a “scandal” that hampers care and forces patients to waste time repeating their medical history at each visit.
According to a survey of 2,339 patients for the Lib Dems, 57 percent have visited a GP more than once in recent years, while 20 percent have needed more than five appointments. But only 52 percent say they have ‘always’ or ‘sometimes’ seen the same doctor.
Meanwhile, 29 percent said they “rarely” saw the same doctor and 18 percent “never” saw the same doctor – rising to 27 percent of people aged 65 and over.
This is despite the fact that research shows that seeing the same GP helps older people avoid hospital admissions and improves the quality of treatment.
A woman talking to a doctor. According to a new poll, GPs are becoming a thing of the past, with only half of patients able to see the same GP all or even sometimes (stock image)
The Lib Dems commissioned a survey of 2,339 patients. LibDem leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘It is a scandal that under government control the family GP is becoming a thing of the past’
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt (pictured) said in 2022 that booking a GP appointment would soon be like ordering a taxi, with patients assigned a different doctor each time
The Lib Dems are calling on all over-70s and patients with long-term physical or mental health problems to have access to a named doctor. The policy would cover about 19 million people. Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘It is a scandal that under government control the family GP is becoming a thing of the past.
‘Retirees are not getting the care they need because doctors’ offices are being overwhelmed, causing waiting times to spiral out of control.’ The research also shows that 46 percent of adults who have visited a GP more than once in recent years now find the waiting time for an appointment ‘significantly longer’, rising to 55 percent of those over 65.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said in 2022 that booking a GP appointment would soon be like ordering a taxi, with patients assigned a different doctor each time.
The former Health Secretary has warned that the ‘Uberisation’ of primary care is endangering the valuable relationship people have with their GP.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne, from the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘The reality is that we do not have enough GPs to ensure continuity of care for all patients.’