Patient-centred care in general practice

Abstract

Patient-centred care is a core value in general practice and is increasingly recognised as a hallmark of good quality healthcare. It describes healthcare that considers the needs, expectations and preferences of the individual patient, and places the patient at the centre of the GP consultation. It encourages GPs to take into account a patient’s subjective experiences of their illness, rather than focussing solely on the management of the disease. This approach to caring for patients has been associated with an improvement in both health and patient-reported outcomes. This article explores the concept of patient-centred care, the evidence-base and the practicalities of implementing this approach into GP consultations.