In the context of GP practice, continuity of care provides an opportunity to develop the doctor-patient relationship, with significant benefits for patients and general practitioners (GPs). However, continuity of care is threatened by trends in the organisational development of primary care in the UK, and its integral role within general practice is currently under debate. In this study, qualitative interviews were conducted with patients and GPs and used to create a parallel patient and GP questionnaire. Each patient (100 from each GP practice) was asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their experiences and views of care. A similar questionnaire was sent to all GP directors currently practising in Oxfordshire, which also included demographic variables. A total of 75% patients reported having at least one GP. The number of patients reporting seeing a GP in each practice ranged from 53% to 92%. The personal relationship between doctor and patient was highly valued by patients and GPs, particularly for more serious psychological and family problems, 77-88% patients and 80-98% GPs valued the personal relationship more than a convenient appointment. For minor illnesses, it had much less value. Patients and GPs particularly value the personal relationship between doctor and patient.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399104000990?casa_token=owwd ZvsP3uUAAAAA:kmpwfkAMYi4lgEXEq4ccdFmku1uHi_z3fG1pKOCCkNVNzuiEKOj zYsWPvc_nAfXVX4nLKuS2