The study - conducted by Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, the University of Exeter Medical School and St Leonard's Practice in Exeter - suggests seeing the same GP results in fewer follow-up appointments, both in practices and in A&E departments of hospitals.

The research, which analysed the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, found that patients who saw the same GP regularly had a longer time before their next consultation – an average of 61 days, compared with 56 for any other GP, meaning fewer consultations were needed in the practice.

The study also reveals that patients seeing their regular GP were less likely - 22% for non-regular GPs and 30% for locums - to attend emergency departments in the same week and were also significantly more likely to be referred to a specialist.

Professor Philip Evans from the University of Exeter and the St Leonard's Research Practice, Exeter, said: ‘Our previous research has indicated that seeing the same GP regularly is linked to numerous patient benefits, including fewer hospitalisations and risk of death, and better care for people with dementia.

‘At a time when workload is probably the biggest problem facing general practices, it's promising to find a research-based way of working which can reduce overall practice workload.'