Nucleus Design treats GPs with simple forms

GPs in England and Wales will be able to spend less time on paperwork and more time on patients with the introduction of a simplified and drastically cut National Health Service form system devised by Nucleus Design.

As part of its Patients Not Paper initiative, the NHS reduced its 19 existing forms by almost 80 per cent. Nucleus then rationalised the content of the remaining four forms, making them user-friendly with colour-coding and unambiguous wording.

“Our design will encourage more efficiency in [more than 9000] doctors’ practices, with fewer signatures, less photocopying and easier, more accurate record-keeping,” says Nucleus director Suzanne Lykiard.

The new designs were introduced this week and Nucleus’ system will be extended to other NHS forms. Further form redesign is likely as a result of the Osmotherley report’s recommendations on reducing the administrative burden on small and medium-sized businesses.

Minister in charge of deregulation Roger Freeman is due to make an announcement on reducing and merging forms in September.