Please note: this report has been withdrawn and is not for clinical use.

Continuity of care is vital for the optimal management of medical inpatients. It fosters trust and understanding between doctor and patient, engenders confidence, reduces the chance of adverse events and increases efficiency. However, it is far from easy to sustain, and shift work, introduced as a result of the European Working Time Directive, may increase the difficulty of providing patients with constant care from one medical team. Against this background, the Royal College of Physicians has set out 12 clear standards of good practice to support continuity of care, with practical suggestions on how best to implement them. 

The report is available to download as a pdf.