Red tape clampdown 'could free GPs'

Doctors complain they have too much paperwork

As many as 3.2 million appointments with family doctors could be saved if ministers were to strip away unnecessary work, say experts.

The Regulatory Impact Unit - a government team set up to assess the effect of red tape, is suggesting a revamp of the repeat prescription system.

Hard pressed GPs will wish to see these measures implemented without delay

Dr Peter Holden, BMA

Removing the burden of this - along with sick note certification, social housing reports and disability benefit assessments - could free up 360 appointments a year for every GP in England, it says.

It could help the government meet a target of all GPs being able to offer non-urgent appointments within 48 hours.

The RIU's experts, working in conjunction with GP advisers, have come up with 19 areas in which changes could ease the pressure on GPs.

Prescription change

Health minister Lord Hunt suggested that many of the reforms could be possible.

"We will continue to work not only with doctors, but with all allied health professionals and other government departments and agencies to ensure that the changes agreed will deliver real and useful benefits for all concerned."

The main proposals of the unit are:

• Issuing just one prescription to patients with long-term, stable conditions - pharmacists would dispense drugs in instalments
• Minimising the calls on GPs to provide non-clinical opinions, such as in evidence for social housing applications
• Extending prescribing rights of practice nurses

Lord Macdonald, minister for the Cabinet Office, which includes the RIU, said: "This report will let GPs spend more time treating people who are ill rather than filling in forms."

Speed call

The British Medical Association (BMA) acted as advisers on the proposed changes.

The organisation's Dr Peter Holden said: "The Cabinet Office's Regulatory Impact Unit's function has been to bring government departments together.

"It is now time for the Department of Health and Department of Work and Pensions in particular to turn these ideas into firm action.

"Hard pressed GPs will wish to see these measures implemented without delay."