THERE have been some welcome announcements over the past week concerning the Government’s intent to give over 75s a named GP responsible for coordinating their care.

I welcome the return of GPs to the centre of healthcare provision. They know their own patients’ needs and are best placed to meet them.

The new arrangement will make sure elderly patients have a strong, personal and regular relationship with their GP.

Just as the old family doctor knew everyone on their patch, it makes perfect sense to make the person with the most detailed knowledge of an individual and their personal and medical needs the first port of call when decisions over appropriate care are being made.

The reforms will ease the pressures on casualty units. A third of all emergency admissions are for over 75s and the majority could have been avoided with better primary care.

Crucially, over 75s who want advice or reassurance will be guaranteed a same-day telephone consultation, removing the need to go straight to A&E for conditions that may not warrant it.

It is particularly pleasing to see how widely the proposals have been welcomed by GPs and the health community.

This policy is the outcome of genuine collaborative thinking between the BMA and the Department of Health and it restores the centrality of the one-to-one GP relationship, freeing them from pointless and burdensome bureaucracy associated with the 2004 GP contracts, so that they can spend more time giving the personalised care that attracted so many of them into the profession in the first place.

The robust recommendations of the Francis Report into failing hospitals are also good news.

I was delighted to see this week that our own district hospital is maintaining its high standards and, following an unannounced inspection, was placed in the lowest risk category.

Congratulations are due to the hardworking staff in Salisbury whose ongoing commitment produced this excellent outcome but, of course, there is no room for complacency.

The events in Mid Staffs have taught us that no less than constant vigilance is essential in even the best of hospitals.