Struggling with online forms or tired of long phone queues? Patchs Telephone Assistant makes contacting your GP simple and stress-free. By calling your surgery and choosing the Telephone Assistant option, an automated system guides you through your request. Your answers are recorded, converted into text, and sent (along with the audio) directly to your GP practice just like a normal Patchs online consultation. Your GP will then get back to you as soon as possible.
Please note: The Telephone Assistant isn’t available at all GP practices—your surgery will let you know when it’s ready to use.
Requirements
- You must be a registered patient at the GP practice.
- You must be 16 years or older.
- Currently, the service is only available in English.
How it Works
Your GP practice may provide either:
- A dedicated number to call, or
- An option to select when calling the main practice line.
Once connected, the Telephone Assistant will guide you through:
- Medical emergencies: Not suitable for urgent or emergency care.
- Age check: Must be 16 or over.
- Identity verification: Confirms your name, date of birth, and postcode. If calling for someone else, it will ask your relationship to them.
- Type of message: Choose from Health Problem, Admin Request, or Medication Request.
- Questions about your issue: The system collects the details of your request.
- Contact details: Confirm the best phone number for the GP practice to reach you.
- Confirmation: You’ll be told once your message has been successfully sent.
Your GP will respond as soon as possible during practice opening hours.
Tips for Using the Telephone Assistant
- Speak clearly and slowly so the system can understand you.
- Stay on the line until you receive confirmation—ending early means your message won’t be sent.
- Prefer human contact? You can always choose to speak to a receptionist instead.