Online booking for GP appointments could ease the daily scramble for slots, ... trends now

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Outdated GP surgery websites are fuelling the 8am scramble for appointments as they still do not offer online booking systems, a damning report reveals.

It means millions of frustrated patients are forced to phone their surgery and join queues when they would prefer to use the internet. Lines are also being clogged up by people requesting sick notes and repeat prescriptions at practices that have failed to embrace technology, according to the research by the Future Health think-tank.

An NHS spokesman said: ‘Seven out of ten patients report an overall good experience.’

The research found more than a quarter of GP websites do not allow patients to book a consultation.