Over 70 UK citizens may get access to named GP

 

The Liberal Democrats have called for a return to the "family doctor" model, where everyone over 70 or with a long-term health condition in England has access to a named GP. This move, they argue, would help avoid hospital appointments and save the NHS money in the long run.

Under the current system, patients have a named GP, but they can still see any doctor who is available. The Liberal Democrats want to change this so that patients can see their named GP as a first option, wherever possible. This, they say, would be particularly beneficial for the estimated 18.7 million people over 70 or with long-term health conditions, who would be able to build a relationship with their GP and receive more personalized care.

The party's leader, Sir Ed Davey, has said that this policy would require an extra £1 billion per year and would take at least four years to implement, with 8,000 more GPs needed to deliver the scheme. However, he argues that it would save the NHS money in the long term, as patients would be less likely to need hospital appointments.

The Conservative Party has dismissed the Liberal Democrats' proposal as an "empty promise" and a "huge unfunded spending commitment". Minister for public health Andrea Leadsom has said that the government is "sticking to the plan to deliver the very best care for patients", including through their scheme to increase the number of GP training places by 50%.

Labour has also promised to improve GP services, with shadow health secretary Wes Streeting saying that they would train thousands more GPs a year and cut the red tape that ties up their time, to bring back the family doctor. He has also said that GP practices would be provided with incentives to offer patients continuity of care.

The Liberal Democrats' proposal has sparked a debate about the future of GP services in England. While some argue that a return to the family doctor model would be a step backwards, others see it as a way to provide more personalized care and reduce the burden on hospitals.

Sir Ed Davey has said that the current system, where patients can see any doctor who is available, is a "tick-box exercise" that has not been implemented effectively. He believes that a named GP would be able to provide more continuity of care and help patients manage their conditions more effectively.

The proposal has also raised questions about how it would be funded and implemented. The Liberal Democrats have said that they would increase funding for GP services, but the Conservative Party has questioned how this would be paid for.

Overall, the Liberal Democrats' proposal for a return to the family doctor model has sparked a debate about the future of GP services in England. While it remains to be seen whether the proposal will be implemented, it has highlighted the need for a more personalized and effective approach to primary care.