GPs are so busy with red tape during a consultation that thousands are unable to spend enough time making eye contact with patients, a Pulse survey reveals. 

A survey of more than 600 GPs finds almost 40% say they do not feel able to make enough eye contact as GP are deluged with red tape.

Although the survey finds 55% of GPs have increased their appointment times in the past five years-spending an average of 11 minutes per consultation, GPs say they spend around a third of this time on administration and just over half addressing patients’ needs.

They claim appointment times need to increase further - up to 14 minutes on average - but GP leaders are suggesting GPs should now be offering appointments of at least 15 minutes.

The survey also reveals worrying signs the bureaucratic burden on GPs is affecting the doctor-patient relationship.

Dr Robert Baker, a GP in Swanage, Dorset, said: “I could really do with being split in two to manage the prevention and curative aspects of my job both of which I am expected to address - for multiple systems - in 10 minutes.”

Read more at Pulse.