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- Page navigation anchor for Bucking the trend, don’t blame part time GPsBucking the trend, don’t blame part time GPsLongitudinal continuity is in crisis - falling 27.5% between 2012 and 2017. NHS policy makers have prioritised rapid access to primary care over 7 days, leading to a notion that any GP will do.However, it is possible to work in a 7-partner practice, looking after 12773 patients and achieve high continuity of care. At Whitley Bay Health Centre, our patient perceived continuity, having both a preferred GP and being able to see them, was 74.8% (2017 patient survey data1). This is achieved by using personal lists. Unfashionable but very effective.Although part time GPs have been mooted as a reason for decreasing continuity, this is not our experience. In response to this article I calculated the continuity of care index (percentage of own patients seen by their named GP) across five fulltime partners (9 sessions per week) and two part time partners (5 sessions per week) for the 4 weeks prior to 22/5/2018. The average continuity of care index was 89.4% across the practice. Part time partners achieved continuity of care indexes of 72.1% and 92.4% respectively. Full time partners continuity of care indexes ranged from 75.2-98.5%.Although personal lists are unfashionable they are very effective in delivery high levels of longitudinal continuity. Continuity is associated with reduced medical admission2, higher patient satisfaction2 and should be prized as a centra...Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.