The Liberal Democrats have introduced a plan to assign a named general practitioner to everyone over 70 and individuals with long-term health conditions, aiming to reintegrate the family doctor system and enhance healthcare continuity.
The Liberal Democrats in England have proposed that all individuals over the age of 70 and those with long-term health conditions should be assigned a named general practitioner (GP). Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, has emphasized that this policy, which partly reinstates the traditional family doctor system, would aid in ensuring continuity of healthcare, thereby reducing unnecessary hospital visits and costs.
This proposal is targeting approximately 18.7 million people, aiming to enhance the quality of care by allowing patients to consistently see a GP who is familiar with their medical history. According to the party, the initiative would also facilitate personalised care and reduce the frequency of patients having to repeat their medical information at different appointments.
While the named GP system was introduced for over-70s in 2013, its implementation has been incomplete. The Liberal Democrats argue that an additional investment of £1 billion per year and the recruitment of 8,000 more GPs are required to fully implement this scheme.
Despite criticism from the Conservative Party regarding the feasibility of funding this expansion, the Liberal Democrats continue to defend their plan. They contend that these changes will lead to long-term savings by decreasing hospital admissions. Moreover, voter satisfaction reports indicate a high approval rate among older patients for their current GP practices despite some challenges, such as difficulty in booking appointments and reaching surgeries by phone.
This initiative comes in response to concerns over the modernization of GP services and the erosion of long-term doctor-patient relationships, with studies suggesting considerable health benefits from maintaining consistency in care provision. The Liberal Democrats believe that reinforcing these relationships is crucial for improving health outcomes and managing long-term conditions more effectively.
