General practice must remain ‘universal front door’ to NHS services in 10-Year Health Plan

In response to a Health Service Journal request about rumours the 10-Year Health Plan may include the segmentation of primary care services, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

“While there is no one size fits all approach to patient care, what we do know is how much patients value their family doctor and the care and services their local GP practice delivers.

“The Government understands this too and have committed to 'bringing back the family doctor' and improving continuity of care. The development of neighbourhood health teams potentially has much to offer in providing holistic joined up care to patients, but this should not involve the fragmentation of primary care services in a way that detracts from general practice being the universal front door to the health service.

“Such a result, were it come to pass, would be alarming to GPs and patients, as it would undermine the role of GPs to provide holistic care for patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions at the heart of their communities. It would make little sense for the Government to dilute this in the forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan given its aim to bring back the family doctor."

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.