GP surgery urges patients to utilise online bookings

Company news

Jul 25, 2014

A Newcastle doctors’ surgery is encouraging more patients to take advantage of its newly introduced online booking facility after the latest national GP Patient Survey results published this week reveal a third of patients would like to book online, yet only 4.5 per cent actually do.

The Grainger Medical Practice at the Elswick Health Centre in Meldon Street, has 6,800 registered patients. It is run on behalf of the local NHS by leading independent health and social care company, Care UK.

Practice Manager, Angela Lydon, said: “The national GP Patient Survey findings make for very interesting reading from our perspective. We have just introduced an online facility to book appointments and order repeat prescriptions. We also send texts confirming online appointments and reminding patients 24 hours prior to the appointment. In addition, people can cancel appointments online.

“As well as being a very convenient option for patients, we hope the new system will decrease the number of people not attending without cancelling appointments, or DNAs (did not attends) as we refer to them.

“It’s interesting that the GP Patient Survey shows so many patients would like to book online. This facility is now available to patients already registered with us and those who might wish to register with the practice. Registered patients need to contact reception in person to be issued a username and password to use the online booking system.”