GP online consultations: not the panacea policy makers are hoping for

Online GP consultation systems may not be the silver bullet for reducing GP workload and patient waiting times that government policymakers are hoping for, NIHR-funded research from the University of Bristol has found. These systems offer the potential to revolutionise use of primary care, but only with careful implementation and effective marketing, the researchers concluded. NHS England is offering a £45 million fund to support GP practices to adopt online consultation systems. However, the evidence on the use and effectiveness of online consultations is limited. The research, published in BMJ Open and BJGP , evaluated eConsult, an online consultation system where patients can submit their symptoms to a GP electronically through their practice website, creating an 'e-consultation'. The system was piloted in 36 GP practices in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The team looked at website usage data, how patients using the system went on to use other care and patient surveys and practice staff interview data.