The 2015-2016 GP contract in England extends the requirement to provide a named accountable GP to all patients, rather than just the over 75. The contract remains “practice-based”, so overall responsibility for patient care has not changed. The role of the named GP is to take responsibility for the co-ordination of all appropriate services and ensure they are delivered where required (based on the named GP’s clinical judgement) to each of their patients.
Having a named GP means he or she will:
- take the lead for ensuring that we offer you all the appropriate services we can
- work with relevant associated health and social care professionals where necessary for your care
- help to ensure that we recognise and respond to your physical and psychological needs
- Ensure that the patient has access to an over 75’s health check if they request one
Having a named GP does not mean:
- he or she will be available 24 hours a day
- that you will have personal access to the doctor throughout the working week
- that this is the only doctor or clinician at the practice who will provide you with care, patients are registered with the practice and we work as a group practice.
You do not have to see your named GP when you book an appointment; you can and should feel free to choose to see any GP or nurse in line with current arrangements and subject to clinician/nurse availability. All patients have an electronic medical record that ensures that all clinicians in the Practice have access to the most accurate and up to date information. Patients are informed of their named accountable GP upon request.