Summary
More people in England are now using the internet to contact their doctors instead of calling on the phone. New rules require all doctor's offices to have online booking available. Some doctors worry this might cause problems for patients and the healthcare system.
Key Facts
- 43.3% of people in England used online methods to contact their GP between mid-September and early October.
- This online contact rate is slightly higher than the phone contact rate, which was 41%.
- The government now requires all NHS practices to provide online appointment bookings.
- Over eight million people used online consultation services in October, a 20% increase from the previous month.
- The British Medical Association (BMA) is concerned that surgeries may face too much demand and patient safety could be at risk.
- The Health Secretary sees the shift to online bookings as progress toward easier appointment scheduling.
- Online booking must be available from 08:30 to 18:00, Monday to Friday.
- Some patients and groups worry about the lack of adequate information on these changes and the challenges for less tech-savvy individuals.
