An Essex MP says contracts for GPs with large numbers of older patients on their books should reflect the specialised care they are offering on a regular basis.

MP for Clacton Douglas Carswell recently discussed the challenges this demographic make-up presents to primary care and GP services with Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt.

He said: “I have spoken to Jeremy Hunt about the fact that GP contracts should reflect the different care needs required by a population with a high proportion of elderly people.

“Current GP contracts are aimed at preventing people from getting ill. But if you are an elderly person this is often not the care you require.

“Elderly people need support and to have their health managed and maintained.”

Mr Carswell added: “Officials in London are responsible for drawing up GP contracts so they tend to be generic but what we need is more flexibility.

“GPs need to be encouraged to give better cover in terms of out of hours support and district nurses should be incentivised to give more support to patients in their homes.

“We should go back to when district nurses were managed by GPs as this would enable them to provide better cover.”

The comments came after analysis of the latest census data by financial services company Prudential found 27% of people living in Tendring, where Clacton is located, are retired.