The BBC has reported that some GP practices including Emmer Green Surgery in Reading have lost website access with the collapse into administration of Footfall suppluer, Silicon Practice.
Patients at Emmer Green Surgery now have to email. phone or visit the surgery to communicate with it.
Francis Brown has provided the following summary of the use of software packages by GP practices:
Each GP practice has a jigsaw of software packages, though patients may only be aware of 3 or 4 of them. There is some overlap so the jigsaw patterns vary from practice to practice. Patients may be aware of:
- Software which connects patients, with Internet access, to their surgery website. For example, Balmore Park Surgery uses the website supplier Iatro. Until recently there were 9 alternative suppliers. There are now 8 including My Surgery website.
- Software which processes requests for GP services, sometimes referred to as triage software. For example, Balmore Park surgery uses AccuRx triage software. Alternatives include eConsult and Anima.
- Software which runs the appointments system, deals with repeat prescriptions records your medical data and test results. Collectively known as a clinical system. For example, Balmore Park uses EMIS Patient access. Alternatives include System One (TPP) and Vision.
Software that manages messages from the surgery to patients. For example, Balmore Park surgery also uses the AccuRx messaging software. Alternatives include MJog and iPlato