‘Continuity can be beneficial for the entire NHS’ says College Chair

Publication date: 28 January 2025

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “GPs and their patients value the wide range of benefits that continuity of care brings, and this study is further evidence that it also has beneficial consequences for the entire health service.

“However, while GPs will strive to provide continuity wherever they possibly can, the’ sad fact is that it has become increasingly difficult to deliver due to intense workforce pressures. The reality is that we don’t have enough GPs to meet demand – on average, a GP in England is now responsible for 2,260 patients, 225 more than they were six years ago.

“Continuity allows us to build a trusting relationship with our patients, particularly those with complex health needs who need frequent treatment. Seeing the same patient on multiple occasions gives us a greater holistic picture of their overall health, which can make taking preventative measures easier, allowing us to treat conditions before they have a chance to develop. As the study suggests, this can keep patients out of secondary and emergency care - where it is more expensive to deliver treatment - and means patients are treated closer to home where they want to be cared for.

“We need to address the workforce crisis in general practice as a matter of urgency. Although we have seen positive first steps to improve GP recruitment, we need a long-term plan to grow the GP workforce with a special focus on retention to keep GPs in the profession. Unless we resolve this fundamental crisis in our workforce, we won’t be able to guarantee the care that our patients value and deserve.”

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.