Overview

• From October 1, GP surgeries in England must keep online consultation tools open during working hours for non-urgent requests, medication queries and administrative tasks.
• Practices will be required to accept contact online, by phone or walk-in from 8am to 6:30pm and respond within one working day with an appointment offer or referral.
• The BMA has given Health Secretary Wes Streeting 48 hours to act or face a formal dispute, arguing the promised safeguards have not been delivered.
• The union warns current online systems struggle to distinguish urgent from routine cases, risking patient safety, longer waiting lists and fewer face-to-face GP appointments.
• The government defends the rollout as part of the agreed GP contract, saying urgent cases will be directed to phone or in-person routes under existing safeguards.