AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/continuity
Continuity of care
Continuity of care means a patient sees the same clinician or team over time, and their information follows them between services.
Summary
- Research links seeing the same GP over time with fewer avoidable hospital admissions among older patients.
- It builds trust, and the doctor comes to know what is normal for that patient.
- It has become harder to provide as practices have grown and more GPs work part time.
- Good records and clear handovers keep it going when the clinician changes.
Interview questions
- Why does it matter that a patient sees the same doctor?
- Would you rather be seen today by any doctor or next week by your own?
- How can a hospital keep care joined up when staff change every shift?
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.