MORE than a quarter of patients across Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven are now booking GP appointments online.

Latest figures show that 26.2 per cent of the 158,961 patients registered with practices in the area are using the web service.

And throughout Yorkshire and the Humber, more than 1.4 million people – nearly a quarter of the patient population – are signed up to the online system.

The initiative also enables patients to order repeat prescriptions, view their records and obtain test results without visiting the surgery.

GPs using the services have reported fewer calls from patients and a drop in the number of people who fail to attend for appointments.

Nationally, 14 million patients are now using the online system – up 42 per cent on this time last year.

Medical chiefs say the move is helping to ease pressure on GPs and their staff.

Dr Masood Nazir, national clinical lead for the NHS England patient online programme, said: “Online access for patients is supporting GP practices to improve their clinical care.

“There are many demands on practices so encouraging patients to register for online services is not only helping reduce some of that pressure, but it is empowering, enabling and motivating more people to share the responsibility for their own health and wellbeing.

“We are seeing many examples of this. It is working well, particularly for patients with long-term conditions who can use their GP record to become more knowledgeable and confident about their condition, treatment and care prior to attending an appointment with their doctor or nurse.

“Registering for online services is simple and free.

“All patients need to do is take along a form of ID to their GP practice and complete and sign a registration form.

“They are then given a unique password and username to help them set-up and start using the services straightaway.”