HEALTH bosses say they have managed to free up around 7,000 hours for GPs and their admin staff by implementing more efficient ways of working.

Bury CCG says GP practices in the borough are now better organised thanks to a new programme known as ‘Productive General Practice’, which is funded by NHS England and co-ordinated with with the CCG’s primary care team.

Dr Jeffrey Schryer, GP and clinical director for Bury CCG, said: “We saw this programme as a way of equipping our workforce, moving forward and transitioning to a better way of doing things.

“The programme brought our practices together and empowered receptionists to have a real handle on what is going on within their practice, putting them in a better position to influence the way things work.”

Dr Schryer said by working more efficiently, around a quarter of GP time could be put to better use, and doctors found that was the case with this programme.

He added: “By releasing the time that GPs spend on administrative tasks, we are able to free up their time to care for patients and find opportunities to upskill other colleagues in key areas, meaning the whole practice is able to work more efficiently and ultimately is able to provide a better service.”

The programme has seen clerical staff trained up to play a greater role within their practice, to direct patients to the most appropriate source of help and also handling paperwork such as repeat prescriptions.

It also involved reorganising clinical space, store rooms and reception desks and standardising administrative processes.

In Bury 25 GP practices took part in the programme to national challenges identified by the NHS. A CCG spokesman said feedback was that staff felt engaged and empowered.