Continuity of GP care: using personal lists in general practice

Abstract

National averages conceal large local variations, and attitudes to the continuity of GP care now vary greatly. On the one hand, there are the majority of general practices that usually use the pooled list system of practice organisation. These practices mostly devolve continuity to patients and accept that substantial continuity of GP care is now too difficult to provide for more than a minority of patients. On the other hand, there is a smaller group of general practices that believe continuity of GP care remains fundamental and which provide good continuity, usually through personal lists. We write from one of these in a practice that has used personal lists continuously for 48 years. The philosophy being that for GP continuity every patient counts.