Choosing a new website provider is rarely something a GP practice plans for. More often than not, it becomes a priority because circumstances change. Perhaps your current provider no longer meets your needs, or you're taking the opportunity to review whether your website is still supporting patients in the way it should.
Whatever the reason, it's worth taking a step back before making a decision. Modern NHS website design is about much more than how a website looks. It plays an increasingly important role in helping patients access services, find trusted information and interact with their practice without needing to pick up the phone.
Digital access is becoming central to primary care. Over the last 12 months alone, patients submitted 83 million online consultation requests to GP practices in England, highlighting just how quickly online services have become part of everyday general practice.
To help Practice Managers compare providers with confidence, we've created The GP Website Buyer's Guide 2026. Before you download it, here are ten questions that are well worth asking.
1. Is accessibility built into the website from the beginning?
Accessibility should never be treated as an optional extra. Every patient deserves equal access to healthcare information, regardless of how they access the internet.
Look for a provider that designs to WCAG 2.2 AA standards and continues to support accessibility as your website evolves. It's surprisingly easy for accessibility to slip over time if content isn't managed carefully.
2. Does the provider understand primary care?
Designing websites for general practice is different from designing websites for almost any other sector.
A provider with genuine NHS experience understands patient behaviour, NHS guidance and the day to day pressures facing practice teams. Those things often show in the details, whether that's clearer navigation, better online journeys or making essential information easier to find.
That experience matters because patients are already relying on practice websites. The GP Patient Survey found that 60.7% of patients had tried to use their GP practice website to access information or services. If your website makes those journeys difficult, patients will often feel the impact long before they contact reception.
3. Will your GP surgery website be easy for staff to manage?
Even the most attractive website becomes difficult to justify if updating it is complicated.
Practice teams need to publish news, update services and respond quickly to changing circumstances. A modern GP surgery website should allow staff to do that confidently, without needing technical expertise.
Ease of use matters for patients too. Among those who had used their practice website, only 64.8% said it was easy to use. That suggests there's still considerable room for improvement across primary care, particularly when practices are trying to encourage patients to access services online.
4. Does the website support your wider digital services?
Patients increasingly expect to complete tasks online, whether that's requesting appointments, accessing online consultations or finding trusted information.
A well designed GP website should work seamlessly alongside the NHS App and other digital services rather than feeling like a completely separate experience. When systems work together, patients are far more likely to use them with confidence.
5. How secure is the platform?
Security is something most people only think about when something goes wrong, but it's one of the most important considerations when choosing a provider.
Ask where the platform is hosted, how updates are managed, what resilience measures are in place and how the supplier protects both patient information and the continuity of your website.
6. What happens during migration?
Changing providers doesn't have to become a major project, although it's understandable why many practices worry about disruption.
A well planned migration should include content transfer, redirects where appropriate, testing and clear communication throughout the process. Ideally, your patients shouldn't notice the change at all.
7. Is support available after your website goes live?
Launching a website is only the beginning.
There will always be new services to update and seasonal campaigns to publish. Having responsive support available when you need it can save your practice a significant amount of time over the years.
8. Will the platform continue to develop?
Healthcare changes constantly, and your website should be able to keep pace.
Choosing a provider that invests in ongoing development helps ensure your website continues to meet changing NHS expectations rather than gradually becoming outdated.
9. Are you comparing long term value rather than just cost?
Cost is naturally an important consideration, but it shouldn't be the only one.
Migration, training, ongoing support, accessibility updates and future product development all contribute to the overall value you'll receive. Sometimes the cheapest option at the beginning becomes the most expensive over time.
10. Does the provider give you confidence?
This question is perhaps the hardest to measure, yet we think it's often the most important.
Do they understand general practice? Can they explain their migration process clearly? Do they have a proven track record of working with NHS organisations?
Those early conversations often tell you a great deal about what working together might feel like over the next five or even ten years.
Ready to compare providers with confidence?
Practice websites have evolved into an essential part of modern primary care. As more patients choose digital routes to contact their practice and access services, choosing the right provider becomes about much more than replacing a website. It's about supporting patients, reducing pressure on staff and creating a digital front door that can continue to evolve with your practice.
If you're reviewing your options, our free GP Website Buyer's Guide 2026 has been created specifically for Practice Managers.
Inside you'll find practical advice, a supplier comparison scorecard and the 10 questions every practice should ask before choosing a new provider. Whether you're replacing an existing GP website or looking to improve your digital presence through better NHS website design, the guide will help you make an informed decision with confidence.