UK introduces online access to GPs in practices

The UK Government has unveiled the widespread implementation of online access to general practitioner (GP) services across nearly all practices in England, aiming to enhance patient experience and ease healthcare access. Following the initiative, 98.7% of GP practices in England are now offering online services to their patients.

This digital transition allows patients to submit requests for online consultations during regular working hours. In October, the number of online requests surged to eight million, marking a 20% increase compared to the previous month, and a 66% rise from the same period last year.

The government emphasized that providing better access to GPs is a crucial strategy to ease the pressure on other areas of the healthcare system, particularly during the winter months. Each year, around four million people visit accident and emergency (A&E) departments with non-urgent health issues, often due to challenges in reaching a GP. This increase in demand puts additional strain on hospital resources. The online consultation feature is seen as a solution to improve patient convenience and relieve pressure on hospitals during peak seasons.

Furthermore, the online service is expected to reduce the load on GP phone lines, allowing patients to more easily contact their surgeries.

Out of 6,207 GP practices, 5,981 have confirmed that their online consultation systems are active and functioning during core working hours, in accordance with contract requirements. Integrated care boards are conducting regular reviews of compliance, while NHS support continues to assist practices that are still in the process of integrating the system.

To support GP practices, the NHS is offering resources such as webinars and consultations with experienced staff members who specialize in service redesign. NHS Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, commented, In todays world, patients expect to manage their healthcare through digital tools, and thats exactly what were providing. People organize so much of their lives online, and healthcare should be no different.

He added, I want to express my gratitude to GPs and their teams for implementing this service. In October alone, eight million patients used online access, demonstrating the tremendous demand and the positive response from GPs. This marks a significant step towards fulfilling our promise to end the scramble for appointments at 8am.

In addition, the NHS introduced new digital tools last month designed to offer faster and more convenient home-based care options for patients, further enhancing the flexibility and accessibility of healthcare services in the UK.

Author: Harper Simmons