Nearly a month after rolling out online GP access, minister of state for care Stephen Kinnock held a call with integrated care board (ICB) leaders on Monday (3) to assess its progress and identify areas that are struggling to implement it, and see what can be done to support them.
As per the programme, which began on October 1, patients can request GP appointments, ask questions and describe symptoms online throughout the day rather than calling their surgery or visiting in person.
The NHS has sought out any GP practices that need help by providing guidance, webinars, case studies, and expert guidance.
However, it said that if they refuse to meet their contractual duties, ICBs can take formal action.
This could include issuing warning notices, applying sanctions, or even ending contracts.
As per the recent data, for the first time, patients contacting their GP practice online outnumber those who continue to use the phone.
It is standard practice for GPs to direct patients to other services when that would better serve the urgency of their need.
This helps ensure that patients get the right level of care.
Kinnock said, “It’s fantastic that most practices have successfully rolled out their online consultation service - now it’s time to support the remaining few to get this up and running everywhere.
“We’ve invested £1.1 billion in general practice and recruited 2,500 more GPs - so the tools and resources are there to deliver a modernised service fit for the future.”
