Continuity of care contributes importantly to patient experience, whether it's continuity of a relationship, by seeing the same GP, or management continuity, that coordinates an individual’s care across the wider health care system. However, continuity is not monitored or incentivised in the same way as other aspects of good practice. To inform its work, the Inquiry panel commissioned a research project to examine good practice in relation to continuity of care and to assess whether, and how, this might be measured. This report explores patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives on this aspect of general practice, and considers how GPs can stimulate and maintain continuity of care.
This paper was commissioned by The King’s Fund to inform the panel of the Inquiry into the Quality of General Practice in England. The views expressed are those of the authors and not of the panel.