Overview
- From 1 October, GP surgeries in England must keep online consultation and booking tools open during working hours for non-urgent requests.
- Doctors report patients are using non-urgent forms to flag severe symptoms such as breathing difficulties, rectal bleeding and persistent vomiting.
- A Pulse poll of 431 GPs and practice managers found 67% are concerned about safety following the access change.
- Practices describe surging workloads, with one reporting 340 to 400 medical triages on Mondays, raising burnout and triage safety concerns.
- The BMA says safeguards and staffing have not materialised and has entered a formal dispute, while NHS England says guidance is in place and patient safety remains the priority.