Digital phone system upgrade will 'end 8am scramble' for GP appointments across the UK
If you've ever hovered over that 'call' button at 7:59am, just waiting for the clock to change so you can attempt to call the doctors for an appointment, then I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear about plans for a new digital phone system.
If Americans on TikTok have taught us anything, it's that the free healthcare we have access to in the UK should not be taken for granted.
Unfortunately however, there's no denying that it can be very stressful to try and get an appointment to make the most of that healthcare, with floods of people often attempting to call the doctors the second the GP practice opens in the morning.
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That all could be set to change in just a few months though, as more than 1,000 GP practices have signed up for an upgrade to a digital phone system.
The upgrade, which will come into force from March, has been backed by a £240 million investment which the government announced in May as part of the Primary Care Recovery Plan.
Rather than being met with the 'engaged' sound or placed on hold for minutes on end, the system will hopefully allow patients to contact their GP more quickly, and have their requests dealt with on the day instead of having to call back another time.
Commenting on the upgrade, Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “We are delivering on our promises to make access to GP appointments easier while boosting staffing numbers.
“With the support of NHS England, general practices, pharmacies and dental surgeries, backed by significant investment from the government, we will bring an end to the 8am scramble for appointments.”
As well as the phone upgrades, the government's plan is looking at allowing access to oral contraception through pharmacies, rather than the doctors, and to make prescription drugs for seven common conditions, such as earache or shingles, available without a GP appointment.
Blood pressure checks at local pharmacies will also be expanded under the government's plan.
Dr Kiren Collison, a GP and interim medical director for primary care at NHS England, said: “GP teams are already treating record numbers of patients but we are determined to improve access further, which is why it is fantastic that all GP practices will be upgrading their telephone systems to make it as easy as possible for patients to contact their practice.
“The NHS is also offering people more convenient options in how they access care, with pharmacies playing a central role in managing the nation’s health, and the pharmacy consultation announced today will help ensure that more staff can provide lifesaving checks and medication on the high street.”
Following its announcement about the Primary Care Recovery Plan in May, the government has said progress is being made and talks are ongoing with NHS England and pharmaceutical companies.
Emily Brown