Regular contact with one GP can help reduce hospital admissions among the elderly, according to a major new study reported today.

Researchers found that patients with high levels of continuity of care experienced about 12% fewer admissions for chronic conditions than others.

This was particularly true for people who were heavy users of primary care services, according to the study by think-tank the Health Foundation, reported in The BMJ.

GP leaders say delivering continuity of care is becoming “increasingly difficult.”

The researchers analysed anonymised information from some 230,000 patient records of people aged between 62 and 82.

Adam Steventon, from the Health Foundation, said practices could undertake steps to improve continuity of care – ensuring that if possible patients were booked with the same GP.

He said: “This research is important because it shows that patients who more regularly see the same GP experience fewer admissions to hospital. Improving continuity of care is not just what patients and GPs want, it could also help to reduce pressure on hospitals.

“An ongoing relationship between patients and GPs is important. However, general practices are under considerable pressure, and people are finding it increasingly difficult to see their preferred GP.”

But Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Good continuity of care can be particularly beneficial to the growing number of patients who are living with multiple, long-term conditions.

“But delivering continuity of care is becoming increasingly difficult as GPs and our teams struggle to deal with increased patient demand, with fewer resources, and not enough GPs or practice staff.

“We desperately need the government to deliver the pledges in NHS England’s GP Forward View to increase investment in general practice and significantly expand the GP workforce, so that family doctors and our teams can continue to deliver high quality patient care for years to come.”