Lib Dems pledge access to same named GP for over-70s and long-term sick

Polling for party shows 47% of UK adults rarely or never see same doctor for each appointment

People aged over 70 and those with long-term health conditions would have access to the same named GP for every appointment under plans unveiled by the Liberal Democrats, as polling reveals almost half of Britons rarely or never see their family doctor.

The Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, said the policy would require 8,000 more GPs and take at least four years to implement at the cost of an extra 1bn a year, with the money coming from taxing big banks.