"The doctors union, the British Medical Association (BMA), has warned that potentially serious health problems could be missed by GPs, and lead to patients being harmed, when a new online booking system is launched across England on Wednesday. But Health Secretary Wes Streeting says ministers are putting the interests of patients first and had already agreed clear safeguards with the union. The system will allow patients wanting an on-the-day GP appointment, or a call from a clinician, to make a request online throughout the day."
"The facility is already available in many practices and is designed to reduce long waits on the phone during the so-called '8am scramble'. The BMA says the government must halt the rollout of the online booking plan to allow changes to be put in place. The union argues that online systems cannot distinguish adequately between urgent and non-urgent patient messages, and this could lead to potentially serious cases being delayed."
"The BMA has also warned there would be a "potential online triage tsunami" with no additional workforce to cope with the extra demand. Union leaders say more should be done to provide safeguards, such as allowing practices to temporarily switch off the online booking mechanism if staff are struggling to handle patient numbers. The union has warned that if the government does not amend the scheme, a formal dispute will be declared."
An online on-the-day GP appointment system will allow patients to request same-day appointments or clinician calls online throughout the day. The British Medical Association warns that online requests may not adequately distinguish urgent from non-urgent messages, risking missed serious conditions and increased demand described as a "potential online triage tsunami" without extra workforce. The union calls for halting the rollout and adding safeguards, including the option for practices to temporarily disable the online mechanism. The union threatens a formal dispute and possible "work to rule" measures if the scheme is not amended. Ministers note the BMA agreed the system in a negotiated contract and many practices already use it.
Read at www.bbc.com
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