Rapid Health Appointment System
Starting from Monday 7th July 2025, all GP, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Physician Associate and First Contact Physio appointments for over 16 year olds will be directed through the Rapid Health online system.
What is Rapid Health?
Rapid Health is an AI driven triage tool approved by the NHS. It involves the patient completing a short questionnaire which is then triaged, and a suitable appointment offered.
Why are we changing things?
We have listened to patient feedback and recognise that accessing appointments has been a difficult and frustrating process for you for some time. With the ever-growing demand within the NHS, we are continuously looking at ways we can improve the booking process and increase capacity. To achieve this, and ensure patients are receiving the best possible care, we have opted to use the Rapid Health triage tool which will allow us to maximise availability, and ensure patients are seeing the right clinician in the appropriate time frame. As the majority of appointments will be booked online this will also free up the telephone lines, making it easier to contact the surgery.
Why do I need to complete an online questionnaire?
All patients will be asked to answer questions using the online form or via the Reception Team when booking their appointment. Your answers help the system find the right appointment for you. This also means the clinician will have the relevant information prior to your appointment, enabling them to have more time to provide quality care to you.
What do I need to do before the start day of 7th July 2025?
Every patient needs to provide an email address to the surgery so that you can be emailed details of your appointment booking. Patient who do not have an email address on their record have been contacted by text or letter to ask them to provide one. This will be stored confidentially on your medical record.
What if I don't have an email address?
You can still use the online system but you won't be offered a range of appointments that you can book online. Instead, your request will be sent to the Reception team who will contact you to book an appointment. Alternatively, you can ring the surgery and one of our Reception Administrators will go through the questions with you and book you an appointment at the end.
When can I use Rapid Health?
From 7th July 2025, Rapid Health will be available during our opening hours Monday to Fridays (except on Bank Holidays). We may extend this once we are more experienced with the system.
How are other types of appointments booked?
We will not be using the Rapid Health System for the following appointments which still be booked by contacting Reception.
- Children under the age of 16
- Nurse appointments e.g. blood tests, cervical screening, vaccinations and injections
- Annual reviews with a clinical pharmacist or Nurses e.g. diabetes, hypertension, asthma
- Medication reviews with a clinical pharmacist
- Post natal appointment and 6 week baby checks
- Contraception advice and prescriptions
- NHS Healthchecks
- Home visits
How do I book an appointment?
You will find a link to the Rapid Health Questionnaire on our website from 7th July and on our Facebook page. A QR code which will take you to the questionnaire will also be displayed in the surgery.
We do understand however, that not everyone can manage to do this online. If this is the case, please either ring Reception or attend in person and one of our Reception Administrators will take you through the questionnaire and submit it for you. You will then be offered an appointment in exactly the same way as anyone filling it out online.
What do I do if I want to see a specific GP or Clinician?
When booking an appointment, the GPs and Clinicians with available appointments will be shown and you can then choose from them.
How can I pre-book an appointment?
All our appointments both on the day and days or weeks ahead will be available on the system. After completing the Rapid Health questions an appointment will be offered within an appropriate time frame.
Why have I been offered an appointment with this Clinician?
Patients will be offered an appointment with the most appropriate clinician for the problem described.
I was not offered an appointment, what do I do?
Once you have completed our triage questionnaire, we will offer an appointment in the most appropriate time frame. If you have not received an appointment, it means that your request has been passed to the Duty Doctor to review. Reception will be in contact within 48 hours.
My problem is personal, and I only want to tell a GP?
In order for the system to direct you to the correct clinician you do need to give certain information on the form. This is saved directly on to your medical record but goes no further. If you need help navigating the questionnaire or our website, you can speak confidentially to one of our Reception Administrators at the surgery who can assist you. All of our Reception Administrators follow a strict code of confidentiality, just like all of our staff.
Who will book follow up appointments?
If a clinician has asked you to book a follow up appointment, please contact the Reception team when you are ready to book.
How do I book an appointment for a child under 16?
You can still book the same way as before by ringing the surgery or coming to reception.
I require an interpreter/assistance for my appointment.
All patients will receive a text/email confirming their appointment. Once booked, please contact the surgery if you require an interpreter or assistance.
I need a fit note, what do I do?
For a new fit note:
- If the issue is new but the surgery has documentation i.e. Hospital discharge summary, please request a fit note via Rapid Health and one of our Reception Administrators will pass your request and information to a Clinician to review and provide the note.
- If the issue is new with no documentation, or a very old issue, then you will need to speak to a clinician. Please fill out the Rapid Health questionnaire and you will be offered an appropriate appointment.
To extend an existing sick note:
- Please contact the surgery by phone or via Rapid Health.
- If you need a review before it can be issued, we will contact you to let you know.
Will I still be able to use the NHS app?
You will still be able to use the NHS app to access medical records, test results and prescriptions but you will not be able to use it to book appointments. You will also still be able to order prescriptions through our website and via the Medicines Order Line.
What if have more questions?
Please contact us by phone or email if you have more questions that are not answered here. This system is new to us as well, but we will do our best to answer your queries and to make the new system work for everyone.