How Patient Partner Eases the GP Appointment Crisis Amid NI Hikes

The Liberal Democrats recently reported that GP practices may face an additional £125.5 million in costs, this translates to a loss of approximately 2.2 million appointments annually. For practices already struggling with staffing and budget limitations, this hike could mean fewer staff members and reduced appointment availability. NHS officials and GP leaders warn that the added financial burden could lead to practice closures or cutbacks.

Patient Partner is a digital solution designed to manage appointment bookings and routine tasks, working 24/7 as a "virtual receptionist." This technology empowers patients to book or cancel appointments over the phone.

It also gives the ability to check appointment times, review and order repeat prescriptions and handle routine queries in any language - all without human intervention. By automating these tasks, Patient Partner helps reduce the workload on reception teams. This allows the remaining staff to focus on direct patient care.

Patient Partner addresses one of the biggest pain points in primary care: overwhelming call volumes, particularly during peak times like the 8.00 a.m. appointment rush. It’s estimated that Patient Partner can reduce call volumes by around 15%, saving practices approximately 100 staff hours each month for every 10,000 patients.

By diverting these calls, Patient Partner frees up time for reception staff to handle more complex and face-to-face interactions. It also gives doctors more time to provide direct care.
Additionally, Patient Partner handles signposting and patient care navigation, guiding patients to the right services, whether they need a vaccination, a referral, or routine support such as prescription refills. For practices under pressure, this translates into better resource management, as staff can focus on in-person assistance rather than being tied up on the phone.

Patient Partner isn’t just efficient; it’s also designed with clinical safety in mind, adhering to NHS standards for data security and backed by accreditations such as EMIS, SystmOne and Vision 3. Patient data is securely stored within the clinical database, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected. Importantly, the system also gives patients the flexibility to manage their healthcare on their own terms, whether that’s booking vaccinations or requesting fit notes.

With the upcoming National Insurance hike looming, GP practices face an uncertain future, many are concerned about how they’ll manage with potentially reduced staff and increased demand. Patient Partner offers a solution to bridge this gap, acting as an extension of the team, ensuring essential tasks are handled reliably even if practices have fewer receptionists.

In an era of rising costs and increasing demand, Patient Partner exemplifies how digital tools can make a significant difference in healthcare, sustaining patient access and helping practices to thrive.