Every GP practice now has to offer online booking

The UK government has mandated that all GP practices must now offer online booking services for patients. This move is aimed at embracing digital technology in the National Health Service (NHS) and improving patient access to healthcare. The decision comes despite opposition from the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors' union, which has raised concerns about the potential impact on patient-doctor relationships and the workload of GPs. However, the government maintains that the NHS needs to modernize and adapt to the digital age. They believe that online booking will make it easier for patients to access primary care services and reduce the administrative burden on GP practices. The implementation of this policy is part of the government's broader strategy to transform the NHS through the use of digital technologies, with the goal of improving patient outcomes and increasing the efficiency of the healthcare system.