More people contact their GP surgery online than on the phone, data reveals

Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

By Jane Kirby and Ian Jones, PA

A slightly higher proportion of people are now contacting their GP surgery online than on the phone, according to data partly collected after controversial online access changes where made.

Office for National Statistics (ONS) health experience survey data for England covering 16 September to 8 October shows that 14.6% of people last contacted their GP in person, 40.5% did so on the phone and 43.3% did so online.

In the previous month, covering August 19 to September 10, some 14.7% of people last contacted their GP surgery in person, 41.3% did so on the phone and 42.3% did so online.

Online contact includes through the GP practice website or via an app, including the NHS App.

From October 1, the government has forced all GP practices in England to offer online booking systems during the core hours of 8.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), nearly all GP practices (98.7%) across England have now rolled out these online consultation requests.