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Sajid Javid dramatically stepped in last night to ensure patients have face-to-face access to GPs.
In a significant victory for the Daily Mail's campaign, the Health Secretary said he would slash red tape to give family doctors time to undertake more appointments in person.
Mr Javid is looking at ways GPs can be saddled with less paperwork to encourage them to see more patients at clinics, this paper can reveal.
By slashing bureaucracy, he hopes far fewer patients will have to make do with telephone or online consultations, reducing the risk that serious health conditions could be missed.
But the Health Secretary will warn doctors that those who continue to provide an unacceptably low level of face-to-face access will be held to account.
In a significant victory for the Daily Mail's campaign, the Health Secretary said he would slash red tape to give family doctors time to undertake more appointments in person
By slashing bureaucracy, he hopes far fewer patients will have to make do with telephone or online consultations, reducing the risk that serious health conditions could be missed
Earlier this week, the Health Secretary met leaders from the British Medical Association and the Royal College of GPs to discuss access to doctors and how the public can get face-to-face appointments.
A senior government source said: 'GPs are doing a phenomenal job and we need to free up more of their time so they can focus on seeing patients rather than filing paperwork.
'That is why we are urgently looking at ways to cut bureaucracy in the system. For many people telephone appointments are more convenient but of course those who want a face-to-face appointment should be able to get one.'
Additional support will be explored for GP practices that require it, while those performing to a poor standard will be held to account, the source added.
The Mail launched its campaign on Monday following growing concerns that serious illnesses were being missed because too many appointments were being held
