GPs struggle with NHS IT, making a ‘shift to digital’ challenging

More than half of GPs rate the basic IT systems in their workplace as ‘poor’.

The finding reflects a report by the Royal College of GPs, that shows how family doctors waste half an hour every day on avoidable IT problems and bureaucracy.

MDDUS has found that 59% of GPs said the IT systems they have to use were slow, outdated, inefficient. They also can’t communicate effectively between primary and secondary care.

Nearly four in ten (37%) said technical issues caused by inefficient IT systems had contributed to patient complaints. The impact of inefficient IT is not just in time lost. When systems are unreliable, doctors resort to workarounds, chase missing information, and risk delays or incomplete records. This in turn can have a detrimental effect on patient safety.

The RCGP findings come as the government sets out plans to shift care in NHS England from analogue to digital.

But a majority of family doctors say they lack confidence that this planned shift can be achieved, with 58% expressing doubts that it can be achieved.

And, instead of reducing their administrative burden, half (53%) of GPs expected digitally delivered care to increase their workload.

However, some GPs say they are open to the potential benefits of digitally supported care. Four in ten (40%) said that a more digitally enabled health service has the potential to improve their daily practice. These doctors said it could introduce more efficient ways of working and make care more accessible for patients.

It’s clear GPs aren’t opposed to moving towards a digitally enabled NHS, with many seeing the benefits it could bring including more efficient care. But for a shift to digital to work, the basics need to be right first.

Our data shows a clear gap between the government’s ambition and the capability of the systems GPs are working with today. This policy needs to be matched with sustained investment in core IT infrastructure, a realistic timetable for delivery and comprehensive training and support for staff.

Ambitious plans to scale AI or transform the NHS App won't get off the ground when the current systems can't even handle basic tasks.

Read more: AI in the NHS must support doctors

About the data:

The MDDUS survey on NHS IT systems had a base of 735 GPs from across the UK and was conducted 26 September – 14 October 2024.

The MDDUS survey on the UK Government policy to see the NHS in England shift from analogue to digital had a base of 387 GPs in England and was conducted from 22 October – 25 November 2025.

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