There is strong evidence that relational continuity of care (seeing a doctor you know) is linked to numerous benefits for patients and doctors. This includes lower mortality, fewer hospital admissions or out of hours use and better adherence to medications.
Despite this evidence, continuity is in decline across the UK due to workforce pressures, policy shifts, and the prioritisation of rapid access models. Evidence highlights that continuity is often worse for some patient groups such as those living in socioeconomic deprivation, certain ethnic groups and patients with complex needs.
The result is an “inverse continuity law” where those who need continuity the most are the least likely to receive it.
The Team
We have created a continuity network of clinicians and academics with an interest in improving continuity of care in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
Our aim is to improve continuity equity through the following activities:
1) Development of a new tool to measure continuity – the Bristol Continuity tool is based on the One Care reallocation tool (included in RCGP Continuity Toolkit) with refinements to give a health inequality focus (frequent attendance, ethnicity and deprivation).
2) Continuity community– we are committed to working with clinicians and community members to overcome barriers and improve the delivery of continuity of care for our patients. We will hold stakeholder events for clinicians and community groups as well out reach educational activities for patient education.
3) Collaboration– We aim to collaborate to create a continuity tool integrated into electronic health care records which is usable and useful to time strained clinicians.
Events
Minutes from community event – 20th March 2025:
Continuity in the Deep End – Stakeholder Report March 2025
Conferences
We have presented our work at the Pan BNSSG meeting and Society of Academic Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting 2024/25.
Please contact the Continuity in the Deep End team at india.wheeler1@nhs.net if you would like to learn more about our work or how you can get involved.