Bid to cut GP paperwork launched

GPs are trying to reduce the amount of paperwork they do

A public awareness campaign is being launched by the government in a bid to relieve GPs of unnecessary paperwork.

Many patients wrongly believe their doctor needs to countersign passport applications and issue certificates for sick leave of less than a week.

The poster campaign in GP surgeries will stress other professions can sign passport applications and short term sick notes are not needed.

But GP leaders said doctors would still be "weighed down with bureaucracy".

There is still a long way to go to really make inroads into the amount of bureaucracy that most GPs work under Dr Hamish Meldrum, British Medical Association

The government said it was particularly concerned to reduce the burden on GPs during winter, when there is a high demand for appointments.

Health Minister Lord Warner said: "Doctors should be spending their time treating patients, not doing unnecessary paperwork.

"GPs have told us about their frustrations in having to fulfil tasks that they need not have to undertake. Some people are actually booking appointments so they can get their GP to countersign their passport application."

He added: "The fact that GPs no longer have to sign for passport applications has gone down extremely well with the profession.

"This campaign aims to educate and inform people and help GPs reduce unnecessary workloads, so freeing up their time to treat more patients."

'Help GPs'

Dr Mike Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, said: "It is important that GPs' time is best spent looking after patients rather than filling in forms.

"These posters will be an important means of making the public aware of how they can help their GP and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy."

But Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said: "Whilst we welcome anything that will help free up GPs' time to see patients, there is still a long way to go to really make inroads into the amount of bureaucracy that most GPs work under."