Why seeing the same doctor every time could save your life

Why seeing the same doctor every time could save your life: Patients are open about symptoms, trusting of medical advice and inclined prescriptions from familiar GP

• Researchers from University of Exeter Medical School looked at 1.4m patients
• Findings showed patients were more likely to die if they used different doctors 
• One US study found nearly a fifth of diabetes patients who saw different GPs died within three years

Patients who see the same doctor at every appointment are far less likely to die early, a major study has found.

They are more open about their symptoms, more trusting of medical advice and more inclined to take their prescription.

The research looked at 22 studies covering more than 1.4 million patients from countries such as the UK, the US, France and the Netherlands. Eighteen of the studies showed patients were significantly more likely to die in a given period if they had appointments with different doctors or hospital consultants.

Research looking at 22 studies covering more than 1.4 million patients showed they were more likely to die in a given period if they had appointments with different doctors

The findings, from the University of Exeter Medical School, will cause concern as most patients are now unable to see the same GP at each appointment because surgeries are so short-staffed.

Hospitals are also understaffed and patients at specialist outpatient clinics often see different junior doctors rather than the consultant supervising their care.

The study’s lead author Sir Denis Pereira Gray, a former president of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘Patients have long known that it matters which doctor they see and how well they can communicate with them.

‘Until now arranging for patients to see the doctor of their choice has been considered a matter of convenience or courtesy: now it is clear it is about the quality of medical practice and is literally a matter of life and death.’

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One US study found nearly a fifth of diabetes patients – 18.5 per cent – who saw different GPs died within three years. This compared to just 8 per cent of those who saw the same doctor every time.

A British study found patients who were able to see their preferred GP were less likely to die from cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a severe lung condition linked to smoking.

However, senior GPs say they are unable to offer patients continuity of care as their surgeries are understaffed and struggling to cope with the demand. Increasing numbers of family doctors are also choosing to work part-time – particularly millennials – and the gaps are being filled by locums.

Last month, a study by the University of Leicester found that just half of patients had a preferred GP – and only half of them were able to see that doctor for most of their appointments.

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘Delivering continuity of care for patients is something GPs strive to do – we know our patients want and value it, as GPs do, and we know that it is particularly beneficial for patients with chronic conditions, long-term mental health issues and complex needs.

The findings, from the University of Exeter Medical School, will cause concern as most patients are now unable to see the same GP each time because surgeries are short-staffed

‘But general practice is currently facing intense resource and workforce pressures, which is making it increasingly difficult for patients to access our services and unfortunately, waiting to see “their” GP means patients may have to wait even longer for an appointment.’

Dr Richard Vautrey, from the British Medical Association’s GP committee, said: ‘The BMA has for a long time stressed the benefits of continuity of care with patients seeing the same GP or team over time.’

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘We want to ensure that everyone has access to GP services, including routine appointments at evenings and weekends – and millions of patients have already benefited from this. To improve access to patients and availability of appointments, we’re investing an extra £2.4 billion a year into general practice by 2021 and have a number of schemes in place to recruit and retain more doctors.’

The research was published in the journal BMJ Open.

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