Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce bureaucracy affecting the work of GPs.

As part of the 2020/21 GP contract, to help maximise the time available for clinical tasks, the Government committed to a thorough review of levels of bureaucracy in general practice. As part of this work, in August 2022, a cross-Government concordat was published agreeing to seven co-designed principles to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy in general practice. Additionally, the Government has also worked to reduce administrative burdens on general practitioners by reforming who can provide medical evidence and certificates such as fit notes and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency medical checks, freeing up time for more appointments. The Department is continuing to work across Government and with the National Health Service to implement the solutions that emerge.