Primary care needs automation to survive: here’s why
Imagine GPs spending a fifth of their working hours just clearing admin. Sadly, that’s the reality for NHS practices across the UK. As per recent reports, over 7.8 million patients are on the waiting list. The demand is rising, and GPs are under constant pressure.
The good news is we can reduce the workload of GPs and practices so they can focus on patient care.
Automation or RPA (robotic process automation) can help automate routine tasks, reduce cost and save time for GPs so they can focus on what matters.
Why is there a need for automation?
The NHS is stretched thin by mounting pressure from all corners. Recent reports highlight some core challenges.
- 8 million people were on waiting lists for hospital treatment in England.
- 1 in 10 NHS roles are vacant, increasing workloads for existing staff.
- Existing staff face mental health issues, making them leave their jobs.
How automation helps:
Reducing burden:
Automating pieces of clinical and administrative tasks like document management (hospital letters), pathology test validation (checking that normal results are actually normal), and vetting repeat prescription requests can reduce the significant burden on GPs.
Minimising errors:
Manual processes are prone to errors. Automation eliminates the risk by verifying and reducing the risk of oversight.
Cost savings:
With automation taking care of admin, practices can optimise resources more efficiently and allocate budgets where they are required the most.
More time for patients:
Automation frees up time by clearing the admin, allowing more time for GPs to focus on patient care.
Real-world impact of RPA at the practice level:
Practices using RPA report measurable improvements:
- 19 days saved annually per practice through automated pathology management
- 50% faster processing of hospital letters and patient registrations
- Repeat prescription reviews cut from minutes to seconds
The result? Less admin, fewer errors, and more time for patient care.
With rising patient demand and increasing workloads on primary care, automation is now essential for the NHS to survive. Tools like RPA handle repetitive tasks like pathology filing, document management, and repeat prescriptions, freeing up time for GPs and practices to focus on patient care.
JifJaff’s MyBotGP Automation range supports over 250 NHS primary care practices, automating workflows such as normal pathology filing, document management and repeat prescription. Recognised by the NHS and UK Government-funded HIN Launchpad programme, our solutions are hosted on HBL ICT’s NHS-compliant platform.
Author: James Aitman – Co-founder of JifJaff, Expert in NHS primary care and healthcare automation products.
Learn more about JifJaff MyBotGP automation range: www.jifjaff.co.uk.