Online GP Appointment Requests Now Available Across England

06 Oct 2025

All GP practices in England are now required to keep their online consultation tools open throughout core hours, from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The Department of Health and Social Care says the change will help end the “8am scramble” by allowing patients to request appointments, ask questions, and describe symptoms online throughout the day, rather than relying on early morning phone calls or in-person visits.

The government reports that:

  • One London surgery cut waits from 14 days to 3 days after adopting the system, with 95% of patients seen within a week.
  • Online submissions have almost doubled year-on-year, from 3.4 million in July 2024 to nearly 6 million in July 2025.
  • The change is backed by £1.1 billion in additional funding for general practice and the recruitment of 2,000 more GPs since July 2024.

Patients will also benefit from a new charter, You and Your GP, which every practice must now publish online, setting out what patients can expect and how they can raise feedback or concerns.

Health leaders have welcomed the move as a key step to modernise general practice, while also recognising ongoing workforce pressures and the need for sustainable investment.

Read the Department of Health and Social Care’s press release here

The Rural Perspective

The Rural Services Network welcomes improvements to GP access, but we must recognise the challenges for rural communities:

  • Digital inclusion – Only 54% of rural premises have access to gigabit broadband, compared with 85% nationally, and 10% of rural areas still lack access to superfast broadband. Without urgent action, rural residents may be excluded from these digital reforms.
  • Workforce shortages – Rural areas already struggle to recruit and retain health professionals, with higher travel times and costs of delivery. Online booking systems alone cannot overcome these systemic pressures.
  • Equity in access – Older populations and those without reliable connectivity may continue to rely on phone or in-person routes, which must remain adequately resourced.

Through our Delivering for All campaign, RSN calls on Government to ensure rural-proofed healthcare policies, fair funding for rural councils and services, and investment in digital infrastructure so that reforms like this deliver for every community.

RELATED TOPICS:
Government Policy 2025 GPs Rural Digital Connectivity Rural Fair Funding Rural Older People Rural Vulnerability Latest News