Starting from October 1, GP practices will have set operating hours, as outlined in the new “You and your general practice” charter by NHS England. Dr. Tim Mercer, a medical expert known for sharing advice on TikTok, highlighted a significant change where practices must provide immediate assistance instead of delaying responses until the next day.
Under the new guidelines, GPs will be available from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm on weekdays, with various communication channels open for patients, including in-person visits, phone calls, online consultations, and the NHS app. Dr. Mercer emphasized the importance of providing necessary details when requesting an appointment or medical advice to ensure prompt evaluation based on clinical requirements.
Patients can expect a response within one working day after making a request, which may lead to a same-day appointment, a follow-up appointment, or guidance on alternative healthcare services such as pharmacy visits. NHS England emphasized that practices must prioritize patients’ clinical needs and cannot defer requests to the next day.
Patients may be offered face-to-face consultations, phone calls with GPs or other healthcare professionals, like nurses or pharmacists, based on their preferences and clinical needs. The NHS advised that patients with carers can authorize them to communicate on their behalf. Additionally, patients can request to see a specific healthcare provider, although there might be a waiting period due to availability constraints, especially for ongoing health conditions.
To support this transition, the NHS has provided detailed guidance on its website. For more information, refer to the full guidelines on the NHS website.