We have allocated a named accountable GP for all of our registered patients. If you do not know who your named GP is, please ask a member of our reception team.
Your named GP will take responsibility for overseeing the management of your health needs and medicines, and who will work with other health and social care providers who are involved in your care.
Your named GP may not be the GP you see most regularly. It is not essential that you always see your named doctor, all doctors at the practice are able to access your health record.
All newly registered patients will be given a named accountable GP on registration.
Will practices write to patients to tell them their named GP?
There is no requirement to write to any patients regarding their named GP. Practices are required to inform patients of their named GP at the next appropriate interaction, and it is for practices to decide what is appropriate.
Does the requirement mean 24 hour responsibility for patients?
No
The named GP will not:
- Take on vicarious responsibility for the work of other doctors or health professionals.
- Take on 24-hour responsibility for the patient, or have to change their working hours. The requirement does not imply personal availability for GPs throughout the working week.
- Be the only GP or clinician who will provide care to that patient.
Can patients choose their own named GP?
In the first instance, patients should simply be allocated a named GP. However, if a patient requests a particular GP, reasonable efforts should be made to accommodate their preference, recognising that there are occasions when the practice may not feel the patient’s preference is suitable.
Do patients have to see the named GP when they book an appointment with the practice?
No. Patients can and should feel free to choose to see any GP or nurse in the practice in line with current arrangements.
However, some practices may see this change as a way to encourage and promote a greater degree of continuity of care for patients.