Online Consultations

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Why online consultations can affect routine appointment availability

We’ve introduced online consultations to make it easier for you to contact us without needing to visit the surgery. They’re great for quick questions and urgent issues, but they can sometimes affect how quickly we can offer routine appointments.

Here’s why:

• More people are getting in touch: Online access is convenient, so more patients are contacting us than before. This means our doctors are managing a higher number of requests overall.
• Some cases need follow-up: If your online consultation needs a physical examination or tests, we’ll book you a face-to-face appointment as well. This adds extra demand on our appointment availability.
• Same team, more channels: The same doctors who see patients in person also review online consultations. With limited staff, time is shared between both types of appointments.
• Urgent care comes first: Online systems often highlight urgent issues, which we prioritise. This can mean routine appointments take a little longer to arrange.

We’re working hard to balance online and in-person care so everyone gets the help they need. The current wait time for a routine appointment is 3 weeks.

If you have an urgent medical need, you will still be assessed promptly and offered an appointment as soon as possible.

Urgent issues include

• Symptoms that may indicate a serious condition
• Sudden or severe worsening of an existing problem
• Any situation where delaying care could put your health at risk

If you are unsure whether your problem is urgent, please contact us by phone or use NHS 111 for advice.

Published: Nov 26, 2025