Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that online services provided by GPs are (a) accessible and (b) user friendly.

As part of the 2025/26 GP Contract, a new requirement has been introduced for general practices (GPs) to offer online appointment requests throughout their core opening hours. This aims to improve accessibility by ensuring that digital services are consistently available whenever practices are open. However, the GP Contract is also clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a GP.

Additionally, all digital tools used in primary care must meet the minimum functionality standards set by NHS England, helping to ensure a consistent and high-quality user experience. Primary care providers are also required to comply with the Accessible Information Standard. This ensures that online services are both accessible and user-friendly, supported by standardised, intuitive digital platforms that meet patients’ diverse needs.