More than half of GPs have reported ‘fundamental inadequacies’ with their practice’s IT equipment, meaning that they cannot effectively exchange information with NHS trusts.
A new survey from the RCGP has highlighted serious problems with ‘outdated’ infrastructure in GP practices, including equipment and buildings that are ‘falling apart’.
In all, 56% of GPs reported that there were such fundamental inadequacies in their digital infrastructure that they could not properly exchange information with trusts.
The college warned that if GPs are unable to easily share information with hospitals this ‘can lead to disjointed care’ and a poorer patient experience.
The survey, carried out between May and June and received a total of 2,190 responses from across the UK, also found that a third of GPs (30%) report that their work PC or laptop software is ‘not fit for purpose’, while more than a third (33%) say their practice building is ‘inadequate for providing care for patients’.
And 71% of GP partners responding to the survey said that their practice requires additional work to upgrade their premises in order to meet patients’ needs, with 23% saying they would need funds of between £100,000 and £500,000 to carry out the necessary upgrades.
The RCGP renewed its call on the Government to invest at least £2bn to improve GP infrastructure – including IT systems – so that GPs and their teams ‘can do their jobs properly’.
This demand formed part of the RCGP’s ‘general election manifesto’, published last year, which listed seven steps for political parties to take in order to ‘save general practice’.
RCGP chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne said that issues with GP infrastructure need to be addressed as ‘a matter of urgency’.
She said: ‘General practice is already struggling to keep up with increasing patient need for our care, and inadequate infrastructure, whether that be out of date IT or practice buildings that are falling apart, only compounds these pressures.
‘Our polling shows the true extent of the crisis: GPs are being held back by old IT that is unfit for purpose and working in inadequate buildings. This is a far cry from what our patients expect and deserve, and it needs to be addressed.
‘This is all a major hindrance for GP teams, but it can have serious consequences for patients: those with lung conditions such as bronchitis or chronic asthma, for example, may well be hesitant to seek treatment if their local practice is riddled with damp and mould.
‘Likewise, if ineffective IT hampers communication between primary and secondary care then patients may not receive the treatment they need as quickly as they need it.
‘Issues with GP infrastructure need to be addressed as a matter of urgency if we are going to rescue primary care.
‘This is why we’re calling on the government to dedicate at least £2 billion worth of funding to improve GP infrastructure – including IT systems – so that GPs and their teams can do their jobs properly and our patients’ experience and access to care is no longer compromised.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Buildings and equipment across the NHS and general practice have been left to crumble, disrupting patient care and hindering staff.
‘Our 10-year health plan will set out how we build an NHS that is fit for the future, including through significantly improving primary care infrastructure.
‘We are also committed to working with GPs to shift the focus of healthcare out of hospitals and into the community – fixing the front door to the NHS.’
As well as the call for investment in GP IT and infrastructure, the RCGP’s manifesto also proposed a national alert system to flag unsafe levels of workload, a new nationally funded retention programme, and a shift of NHS funding from hospitals towards general practice.
This story was first published by our sister title Pulse
