The Liberal Democrats say they want to give people over the age of 70, and people with long-term health conditions in England, access to a named GP.
They say this would save the NHS money in the long run by reducing hospital appointments.
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, said: “We want to see the return of the named GP, so patients with complex care needs see the same GP and don’t have to waste time going over the same details every time they see a doctor.”
He said this would provide “vital personalised care”. The party has said it wants people to be able to see their GP within a week or within 24 hours for urgent need.
Epilepsy Action says that epilepsy is life-long for many people with the condition. According to the organisation healthtalk.org, GPs are the “first port of call for long-term conditions” and often the “ongoing care after diagnosis is organised by the GP and specialist nurses”.
The party has also pledged to introduce a 24/7 hotline so people can book GP appointments anytime.
Davey said it would take at least four years to deliver this, requiring 8,000 extra GPs and £1bn per year.
Other political parties are also focusing on improving access to GPs, with Labour promising to train more GPs and cut red tape to free up their time.
