A service designed to improve access to GP appointments and make it easier to order prescriptions has been praised by local patients and GPs.

All practices in North Kirklees now allow you to book appointments online. As well as being able to book and cancel appointments practices also offer the option of ordering repeat prescriptions and viewing your patient record.  Online services do not replace traditional ways of contacting your GP practice, over the phone or in person. They simply offer additional ways to interact with your GP, making it easier and more convenient for you.

Mohammed Zahoor, Practice Manager at Dr Mahmood and Partners, Ravensthorpe said: “Our patients find the online services really convenient as they can order their repeat prescriptions and book appointments without having to come into the surgery or phone up.  Patients can also cancel appointments if they need to do so, which means that these appointments are then freed up for other patients.

Patients who use the service generally find it quicker and easier than making a phone call.    Our staff are more than happy to help patients if they have any questions about using the online services available at our practice.”

Howard Buck a patient at the practice who lives in Ravensthorpe said: “It is really easy to access GP online services via a computer, tablet or smart phone.  You can use the online system to order your repeat prescription at any time and you don’t even need to remember the names and dosages of the individual items as they are all detailed there for you.”

GP online services are totally secure.  Each patient uses a unique password and no one else is able to see their information.  You can find more information about the online services available on your GP practice website or by calling into the surgery.

Another patient at the practice, local Ravensthorpe resident Tony Hollands also champions the service: “When you use the online prescription service, you can pick up your medication at any pharmacy, for example, one close to your home or work.  You don’t need to visit the surgery and prescriptions are sent directly to the pharmacy of your choice.  It’s really very convenient for a lot of people and I would encourage everyone to use the service.”

You can find out more about accessing GP online services on the NHS Choices website at  www.nhs.uk/aboutNHSChoices/aboutnhschoices/find-and-choose-services/Pages/gp-online-services.aspx

Photo (left to right) Howard Buck and Tony Hollands.