Outdated, rundown and simply not fit for purpose

Dr Steve Mowle, Honorary Treasurer of the Royal College of General Practitioners, has written the following op-ed in the Daily Express this morning, alongside a full-page spread on page six detailing the inadequate state of GP premises and digital infrastructure. 

While many professions rely on cutting edge tech, processing huge volumes of data at the click of a button, GPs often find themselves lumbered with whirring relics from the noughties. 

It’s been the butt of many jokes but, in recent years, it has also become a source of frustration and concern. As we’ve seen our patients struggle to gain access to our services. It’s clear that outdated IT is no laughing matter.

Over the past year, GPs and their teams delivered an average of 30 million appointments per month – over 4 million more each month than in 2019 – while the number of fully-qualified, full-time equivalent GPs has fallen by 601.

Inadequate IT systems intensify this pressure, delaying GPs who are trying their best to ensure their patients can access the care they need.

I found this out firsthand when I decided to invest in speech recognition software – designed for doctors to make note taking faster and easier. This should have been a valuable time saver but my outdated computer in my clinic in South London did not have enough RAM to support the software. As a result, I've never used it and had to stick with the more time intensive process.

I am by no means alone; many GPs are reporting that their inadequate IT systems are holding them back.

In a recent survey by the College of GP members, 30% reported that their PC or laptop software was not fit for purpose and 56% reported that they could not effectively exchange information with NHS trusts. This can be highly disruptive and can have serious consequences for patients.

If we’re unable to easily pass on referral information to other NHS services, it can mean a patient doesn’t receive the treatment they need in a timely fashion. For some patients, this could result in their health worsening and becoming harder to treat.

IT and digital tools are constantly improving and yet healthcare – arguably where these new technologies are needed most – is being left behind and GPs are making do with IT that is simply not fit for purpose.

In general practice, we’re seeing more and more patients and people are coming to us with increasingly complex health needs as the nation ages. With GP numbers shrinking, we are busier than ever.

The last thing we need is outdated and ineffective IT wasting even more time.

We need to see action from the government. We’ve made calls for £2 billion worth of funding to improve GP practice infrastructure which, crucially, includes our digital and IT systems.

We must ensure that GPs have the time they need to treat patients and that they’re not stuck watching the spin of a dreaded blue wheel. 

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.