The days of the frantic 8am phone scramble for a GP slot may soon be over. New figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that 98.7% of GP practices in England now offer online consultation requests during core hours, with eight million submissions in October 2025 alone.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called it a “massive step” toward ending the morning chaos and bringing the NHS into the digital age.
Patients clearly welcome the change. Surveys reveal most now contact their GP online first, especially younger and working-age adults who value the convenience of submitting symptoms or requesting repeat prescriptions without waiting on hold.
Practices report fewer missed appointments and better demand management, as clinicians can triage requests and decide whether a message, phone call, video link, or in-person visit is needed.
If expanded to full video or secure-messaging consultations, the benefits could grow further. Rural patients facing long journeys, parents with sick children, and those managing chronic conditions could all save time and stress.
NHS estimates suggest widespread virtual care could save hundreds of millions of pounds a year and reduce carbon emissions from travel.
Online appointments bigger workload for GPs?
Yet the rollout has not been painless. The British Medical Association says three-quarters of GPs experienced increased workload, and over half reported a negative impact on patient care during the transition.
Many practices cut face-to-face slots or redeployed staff to cope, and doctors warn that patients sometimes submit urgent problems through the wrong channel, risking delays.
Perhaps the biggest concern is digital exclusion. Older people, those on low incomes, and residents of areas with poor broadband risk being left behind unless extra support is provided. Without addressing the underlying shortage of GPs—numbers are still falling year-on-year—online tools can feel like a sticking plaster rather than a cure.
The evidence from England, Scotland and Wales shows online appointments can work well for straightforward issues when properly integrated. Done right, they free up capacity for patients who genuinely need to be seen in person. Done badly, they add bureaucracy and widen inequalities.
Perhaps online GP appointments can improve UK healthcare—by increasing access, cutting waste, and giving patients more control. However, overall success will depend on investments in training, infrastructure, and, crucially, the workforce needed to make the system safe and fair for everyone.
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