Rapid Health FAQ’s

Rapid health is an AI driven triage tool approved by the NHS. It involves the patient completing a short questionnaire which is then triaged, and a suitable appointment offered.

We have listened to patient feedback and recognise that accessing appointments including online booking is important to you. With the ever-growing demand within the NHS, we are continuously looking at ways we can increase capacity.

To achieve this, and ensure patients are receiving the best possible care, we have opted to use the Rapid Health triage tool which will allow us to maximise availability, and ensure patients are seeing the right clinician in the appropriate time frame.

All patients will be asked to answer questions using the online form or via the Reception Team when booking their appointment. Your answers help the system find the right appointment for you.

This also means the clinician will have the relevant information prior to your appointment, enabling them to have more time to provide quality care to you.

Visit the website to complete a Rapid Health questionnaire form. You will require an email address to be able to use this system. The practice sent out an SMS message to all patients requesting you to update your email address – this information will be saved confidentiality within your medical records.

Appointments can be booked via our practice website, 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) between 8am-5pm or via our Reception Team during practice opening hours. We understand that not all patients are able to do this, and our Reception Team will still be available, on the telephone, or in person, to assist you as appropriate.

• Same day triage
• GP appointments,
• First Contact Practitioner (Physiotherapy)

Yes but only for blood tests and smear test appointments. Patients can still access their medical records, test results and prescriptions via their preferred application as before.

Yes after completing the Rapid Health questions an appointment will be offered within an appropriate time frame. Where appropriate, both telephone and face-to-face consultations will be offered up to 4 weeks in advance.

If your problem is clinically urgent, the system will offer you same day appointments to choose from.

In order for the system to direct you to the correct clinician you do need to give certain information on the form. This is saved directly on to your medical record but goes no further. If you need help navigating the questionnaire or our website, you can speak confidentially to one of our receptionists at the surgery who can assist you. All of our staff follow a strict code of confidentiality just like the rest of our staff.

No. We will not be using the Rapid Health System for the following appointments which still be booked by contacting Reception.

• Nurse / HCA appointments (i.e. dressings, removal of stitches, injections etc.)
• Blood tests (these can be booked via the NHS App, or contact reception)
• Smear appointments (these can be booked via the NHS App, or contact reception)
• Contraceptive procedures (implants and coils)
• Steroid injections
• Annual reviews for chronic conditions (e.g. Diabetes, Respiratory, Cardiac, Learning Disabilities)
• Medication reviews with a Clinical Pharmacist
• Social Prescriber appointments / follow-ups
• Post natal appointments and 6-week baby checks
• Home visits

When booking an appointment, the GPs and Clinicians with available appointments will be shown and you can then choose from them.

Patients will be offered an appointment with the most appropriate clinician for the problem described.

Once you have completed our triage questionnaire, we will offer an appointment in the most appropriate time frame. If you have not received an appointment, it means that your request has been passed to the practice to review. The practice will be in contact within 48 hours.

The clinician you see will book your follow up appointment if this is indicated.

If their medical condition is urgent for that day please contact our reception team who will be able to signpost you to the most appropriate service.

For routine appointments, after completing the Rapid Health questions an appointment will be offered within an appropriate time frame. Where appropriate, both telephone and face-to-face consultations will be offered up to 4 weeks in advance.

No. All appointments that can be booked online can also be booked via the Reception Team. The only advantages to booking online is that the system is available Monday-Friday (excl. Bank Holidays), between 8am-5pm and there is no need to queue. 

The same questions will be asked if a patient is booking an appointment via Rapid Health or our Reception Team.

Once your appointment is booked, please contact the practice and notify the Reception Team if you require an interpreter or assistance.

For a new sick note:

• If the issue is new but the surgery has documentation i.e. one of our administrators will pass your request and information to a Clinician to review.
• If the issue is new with no documentation, or a very old issue then you will need to speak to a Clinician. Please fill out the Rapid Health medical questionnaire and you will be offered an appropriate appointment.

To extend an existing sick note:

• Please fill out the Rapid Health admin questionnaire and one of our administrators will pass your request and information to a Clinician to review.
• If you need a review before it can be issued, we will contact you to let you know.

No. This system is purely for booking appointments. You can continue to order your prescriptions via the NHS app, Patient Access app, in writing to the practice (this can be given to reception, or we have a letterbox outside the surgery for when the surgery is closed), or through your pharmacy.