Single-handed general practitioners, like other GPs in partnership, are committed to delivering high quality care to their patients. Single-handed GPs currently care for approximately five million patients and do so with high continuity and accessibility. Indeed, their patient satisfaction ratings have remained consistently high, particularly since they offer such a personal service.
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Read BBC article on "Solo GPs face more GMC hearings" here. Email us your opinions.
Download the FDA report on single handed general practice - putting the findings in context (download)
Press enquiries To Moira Auchterlonie 01706 620920 Email here
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The evidence on the quality of care provided by single handed GP practices
- Smaller practices performed marginally better overall in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) (evidence)
- This study shows that there is no evidence that single handed GPs are underperforming clinically (evidence)
- No single type of practice has the monoply on high quality care; different types of practice have different strengths (evidence)
- Smaller practices have better access, better continuity of care and better receptionist performance and no disadvantage in relation to 10 other dimensions of care (evidence)
- The Audit Commission reported that there are good arguments for preserving diversity of practice sizes and types (Report)
- Patient satisfaction reduces as practices get bigger; patients like single handed practices. (evidence)
The Shipman Inquiry fully exonerated single handed practice.
Dame Janet Smith led this forensic analysis of the structure of single handed GP practice
PCT negative attitudes criticised by the Shipman Inquiry.
- Dame Janet Smith said, “It seems to me that the policy of the Department of Health and of PCTs should be to focus on the resolution of the problems inherent in single-handed or small practices rather than to try to reduce the numbers of them in existence. I know that the DH says that it has no such policy but I have the clear impression that such a policy exists in the regions, if not in Whitehall. It is typified by the attitude that single-handed practices are a problem and that the NHS would be better off without them."