"Government direction to nominate over 75's with a responsible doctor"

My partner and I are 78 years of age, we are patients at different practices in Coventry. We have both been contacted and informed of the new Government proposals for care of patients over the age of 75. We have both been supplied with the name of the nominated Doctor responsible for our care each practice has a number of practitioners. In each case the name of the nominated Doctor means nothing to us. We do not know if the Doctors are male/female, 20, 30, 40 or retirement age.

I rang my Doctor's and was told that they had many over 75 year old patients and could not contact each patient to ascertain the Doctor they would be happy with. I contacted my practice and was told they couldn't do anything about it and the nominated Doctor, who I had never met and knew nothing about, would be my nominated Doctor.

I emailed the senior partner and he agreed with my wishes and allowed me to have the Doctor I wished as my nominated Doctor.

I have contacted my partner's Doctor with the same request, only to be told that they can't change details of nominated Doctor. The explanatory letter she has received informs her that the named GP will have overall responsibility for the care and support that the surgery will provide for her. I am at a loss to understand how a Doctor you have never seen can be responsible for her care and support.

In all multi Doctor practices patients have the choice of Doctor who understands the individual patients problems. If you have to see another Doctor, he/she has to ascertain the patients particular problems especially when the average slot of 10 minutes per patient.

Sorry the Government may make these rules, but I don't think the practices are operating it as it was assumed they would.