Accreditation practice pointer: patients can request their preferred practitioner

GP2.1 A Our patients can request their preferred practitioner.

RACGP Standards for general practice.

General practice supports continuity of care when patients are able to request their preferred GP. A strong patient-practitioner relationship is a core component of preventative care. A patient-practitioner relationship is more likely to develop, when patients see the same GP over a period of time.

General practice can support the Criterion by maintaining processes so patients can see their preferred practitioner when possible and when appropriate, taking into account the medical urgency of the issue.  

Practices also encourage GP choice for patients by:

  • documenting in the patient’s health record when ongoing care has been provided by a particular practitioner, where possible

  • displaying notices in the waiting room notifying patients that a practitioner is on leave and the date they are due to return

  • displaying a notice in the waiting room or on the website if a practitioner leaves the practice

  • demonstrating how patients can book an appointment with their preferred GP via your practice’s online booking system

  • having a policy to ask patients which practitioner they would like the appointment with.

Margot Schoonmaker