New GP online booking system ‘risks patient safety’, doctors warn

The Union of Doctors, the British Medical Association (BMA), warned that GPS could miss potentially serious health problems, and a new reservation system on the Internet will be launched on Wednesday throughout England.

But the Minister of Health of the UES String says that the ministers put the interests of patients in the first place and have already agreed with clear guarantees with the trade union.

The system will allow patients who want to prescribe the appointment of general practitioners, or a call from a doctor to make a request on the Internet during the day.

The object is already available in many practices and is designed to reduce long expectations on the phone during the so -called “8 in the morning”.

BMA says that the government should stop the deployment of the online booking plan in order to make changes.

The Union claims that online systems cannot adequately distinguish between urgent and non-urgent messages about patients, and this may lead to a delay in potentially serious cases.

BMA also warned that there would be a “potential online sorting” without additional labor to cope with additional demand.

The leaders of the trade unions say that it should be done more to ensure guarantees, for example, to allow practice to temporarily disconnect the mechanism of online boning if employees are trying to cope with the number of patients.

The Union warned that if the government does not make changes to the scheme, an official dispute will be announced. This can lead to a situation of “work by law”, similar to what was introduced in the previous dispute, during which GPS limited the appointment of patients to a minimum required in accordance with their contract.

But the ministers claim that BMA agreed to introduce an online boning under the new agreement of the contract in England. They note that many GPS already offer a service.

WESS -STRATIT, State Secretary in Health and Social Assistance, said that it is “absurd”, that in 2025 many patients cannot request meetings on the Internet.

“If you can sign up for a hairstyle for your hairstyle on the Internet, you can also book a NHS purpose. We agreed on clear guarantees where patients will be sent by phone or personally visit urgent appointments. BMA knows this. This government will always put the interests of patients in the first place, and we will not support our NHS, which will be restrained in analogous age. ”

Dr. Katie Bramall-stand-up, chairman of the BMA GP committee, said that the changes were agreed with “provided that the“ necessary guarantees ”will be brought into effect” before Wednesday on October 1.

“This was agreed – in writing – with the government … and NHSE in February this year. Now almost eight months later, he is deeply disappointed, to see promises, broken, ”she added.

She said that the ministers were warned that the changes would lead to the “waiting lists in the hospital in general practice”, which can “reduce meetings with a general practitioner”.

M -N String said that 2000 additional general practitioners were already hired throughout England, and that patients with patients were on UP.

Officials said that operations that have implemented changes reported a reduction in the waiting time for appointments.