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GP I Project

The first GP project was undertaken by the Public Sector Team in conjunction with the Department of Health to reduce the paperwork burden on GPs in 2000/01.

Key objectives

• To identify paperwork and processes considered to be an unnecessary burden on GPs;
• To assess the implications of their removal or amendment;
• To rigorously challenge why such paperwork and processes are being used; and
• To develop and implement action to reduce burdens on GPs.

Identifying and understanding the issues
During the early stages of the project, the Public Sector Team visited GP surgeries to hear first hand how red tape and bureaucracy can get in the way of treating patients. The interviews were semi-structured and staff were encouraged to be open and frank. Suggested solutions to the issues they raised were also sought where appropriate.

A GP Advisory Panel was established to provide specialist advice throughout the project. Its membership included practising GPs, Department of Health, British Medical Association, Small Practices Association, Patients Association and the NHS Alliance. Potential solutions were brokered through negotiations with the GP Advisory Panel, policy makers, administrators and other stakeholders.

Initiating and obtaining commitment to address the issues raised
Meetings were held with those responsible for the policies and administration that were considered to be creating the burdens. The team did not seek to criticise or change the policy in place; rather it sought to ensure that it fully understood the policy objective behind the process or paperwork requirement before looking for simpler ways to achieve the same objective. Negotiations were then held with the relevant stakeholders to agree and implement solutions to reduce or remove unnecessary burdens.

Making a Difference
‘ Making a Difference: Reducing General Practitioner (GP) Paperwork’, published in March 2001, delivered 36 tangible outcomes. These outcomes form a commitment from the relevant department or agency to reduce or remove burdens from GPs.

The report estimated that through the implementation of agreed outcomes, the annual savings would be:

• 7.2 million appointments each year; and
• 750,000 additional hours