GPs losing £400 worth of time a day to avoidable workload

GPs in England may be losing the equivalent of £410 per GP per day to avoidable and hidden work, according to a new report from the Royal College of General Practitioners. 

The report, Tackling the GP workload crisis: From evidence to action on hidden and avoidable workload in general practice, finds that a significant proportion of GP time is being taken up by work generated by wider system inefficiencies rather than direct patient need. It warns that this growing burden is reducing the time available for patient care and risks undermining both access and safety. 

GPs say they are increasingly acting as a “safety net” for a fragmented NHS, spending large parts of their day dealing with administrative and system-generated follow-up work originating elsewhere in the system. This includes dealing with inappropriate referral queries and redirected or rejected referrals, chasing information from other services, and navigating poorly integrated IT systems. These are tasks that do not always require a GP’s clinical expertise. 

On average, GPs report spending 25-30 minutes a day on this kind of system-generated work, highlighting the impact on time available for patient care. The College warns that this hidden workload is placing unsustainable pressure on general practice at a time of rising demand. 

According to the report, poor co-ordination between primary and secondary care, fragmented referral pathways and inefficient IT systems are key drivers of avoidable workload. GPs also report increasing levels of bureaucracy, duplication and regulatory requirements are further reducing the time they can spend with patients. On average, GPs report spending around a quarter of their time on administrative tasks, much of which does not directly improve patient care. 

All clinicians in the study worked beyond their contracted hours, with GPs spending a significant proportion of their day on work that does not directly contribute to patient care.  

The findings highlight the impact this is having on both patients and GPs. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those RCGP surveyed said excessive workload is compromising patient safety, while fewer than a third feel they have enough time to build meaningful relationships with patients.  

The research also highlights that not all hidden workload is avoidable. A significant proportion reflects essential work required to deliver safe, coordinated patient care, which is often unrecognised in current funding and workforce planning. 

RCGP is calling for urgent co-ordinated action from the Government and NHS England to address the root causes of unnecessary workload in general practice. This includes improving co-ordination between primary and secondary care, investing in interoperable digital systems, streamlining regulatory and reporting requirements to reduce duplication and administrative burden, and ensuring that GP workload is properly recognised and resourced. 
 
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 

“GPs are routinely working beyond their hours to keep patients safe, but too much of their time is being taken up by bureaucracy and system inefficiencies that often add little value to patient care, particularly where requirements are duplicative or disproportionate. 

“From chasing referrals to navigating fragmented IT systems and complex regulatory requirements, GPs are increasingly being asked to pick up work that should sit elsewhere in the system. This is frustrating for both doctors and patients, and it reduces the time we can spend delivering direct care. 

“General practice cannot continue to act as a safety net for a system under pressure. 

“While not all hidden workload is avoidable, a significant proportion could be reduced if systems worked better. To improve access and patient safety, we must cut unnecessary bureaucracy and design services around patients and the clinicians caring for them.” 

The report concludes that without co-ordinated system-wide action, rising demand and ongoing system pressures risk pushing general practice, and the care patients receive, to breaking point. 

Notes to editors

Tackling the GP workload crisis: From evidence to action on hidden and avoidable workload in general practice  

The report’s recommendations are based on evidence and analysis from RCGP, including a survey of 2,316 GP respondents across the UK, and a deep-dive mixed method research project commissioned by RCGP. This included a literature review, in-depth interviews with 14 GPs and one practice manager, and a time and motion study with 11 GPs, across a range of regions, practice sizes, and rural/urban areas in England.  

More detail on the mixed methods research project can be found in the methodology section of the research findings report published in Dec 2025.  

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. 

For further information, please contact RCGP press office on 0203 188 7659 or press@rcgp.org.uk.