Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential value for money of providing financial incentives for GPs to deliver continuity of care.

While an official assessment has not been made, the Government has committed to bringing back the family doctor for those who would benefit from seeing the same clinician regularly, for example those living with chronic illness. Improved continuity of care with the same general practitioner (GP) is associated with better health outcomes, fewer GP appointments over time, and fewer accident and emergency attendances. This will be achieved by incentivising GPs to see the same patients, and we will work with the profession and engage with stakeholders to inform how this is delivered.

Delivering our other commitments relating to GPs will also support improvements in the provision of continuity of care. For instance: building capacity in practices by training thousands more GPs; guaranteeing face-to-face appointments for all those who want one; delivering a modern appointment booking system; and shifting resources to primary and community care services over time.