Continuity in general practice: time for a broader definition

Louisa Polak (in response to Emilie Couchman) notes that the ‘best way [of having background knowledge about the patient] is to ensure that they have seen the patient before, but unfortunately, we all know that such relational continuity is never going to return to being the norm’. ¹

We cannot agree, as an important minority of practices are still providing GP continuity so that more than half their patients consult with their named GP (measured on the St Leonard’s Index of Continuity of Care) around the year. We hope she will visit one of these practices and see how GP relational continuity can be provided.