"Data covering three weeks from mid-September suggest just over 43% of people went online to contact their GP - an increase of a percentage point from the previous month - compared with 41% percent on the phone. It comes after all NHS practices were required by the government to provide web bookings from October. The government says more than eight million people used online consultation services in October, up by a fifth from the previous month."
"The British Medical Association has suggested the move risks seeing surgeries overwhelmed by demand and says patients could be put at risk. It is in a formal dispute with the government over the changes. But Health Secretary Wes Streeting has heralded the latest figures as "a massive step" towards meeting the government promise to end the "8am scramble for appointments"."
ONS data covering three weeks in mid-September to early October show 43.3% of people in England contacted their GP online, compared with 41% by phone. The increase follows a government mandate requiring all NHS practices to provide web bookings from October and set online booking hours of 08:30-18:00 Monday to Friday. More than eight million people used online consultation services in October, up by a fifth month-on-month. Patients can request non-urgent consultations, ask questions, describe symptoms and request a callback. NHS England describes the service as easier and popular. The British Medical Association warns of overwhelmed surgeries and untriaged urgent requests, citing patient safety risks.
Read at www.bbc.com
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