Continuity of care in general practice is concerned with ensuring that patients whose condition does not require admission to hospital are seen by the same clinician for all or as many consultations as is possible. The rapport, trust, confidence and understanding between the two are thus enhanced and this leads to better outcomes and fewer hospital admissions.
There will be times when it is not possible for a patient to be seen by their usual clinician. This emphasises the importance of keeping patients’ clinical records up to date with all relevant information recorded, including:
- Entering acute and repeat prescriptions
- Recording consultations and care plans accurately and clearly at the time of or shortly after they have taken place, including on-line consultations
- Processing recording referral letters on the clinical record in a timely and appropriate way
- Entering patient test results and consultants’ letters as soon as they are received
- Accurately recording any email or telephone correspondence on the clinical system
This helps to ensure the alternative clinician has the most recent information available when managing patients’ care.
We strive to deliver continuity of care to all patients, acknowledging that seeing the same member of our team can lead to improved health outcomes, whilst also ensuring you consult with the most appropriate clinician in our team.