Online Consultation GP - Digital Front Door for NHS Practices

The smarter way to manage patient access

Empower your patients to consult your GP online through FootFall - a NHS digital front door solution that transforms how practices manage demand. FootFall simplifies patient access, streamlines admin workflows and reduces the daily flood of phone calls. From appointment requests to NHS GP telephone consultations, FootFall makes every interaction smoother, safer and more efficient.

Why practices need an online consultation GP system

Across the NHS, patient demand is rising while practice workloads continue to grow. Many surgeries are still relying on traditional phone lines or manual triage systems, making it difficult to manage demand effectively.

An online consultation GP platform offers a better way. It gives patients a convenient route to contact the practice, while giving staff the tools to manage requests efficiently and fairly.

With FootFall, patients can:

  • Submit a request any time of day
  • Choose between an online form or an NHS GP telephone consultation
  • Receive updates and guidance instantly

For practices, it’s a true digital front door NHS approach – improving access, cutting admin and ensuring every patient gets the right care, first time.

online consultation gp

What is FootFall?

FootFall is an NHS-approved digital front door platform designed specifically for primary care. It enables patients to consult your GP online through a secure, intuitive interface that integrates directly with your existing systems.

Whether a patient needs an appointment, prescription renewal or clinical advice, FootFall ensures their request is routed to the right person – saving time for both staff and patients.

  • Secure and NHS-compliant
  • Works alongside NHS App and clinical systems
  • Customisable to your practice workflows

With FootFall, you’re not just adopting an online consultation GP tool – you’re embracing a smarter way to manage digital patient flow.

online consultation gp

Why patients love to consult their GP online

FootFall is designed around accessibility, convenience and trust.

Benefits for patients

  • 24/7 access: No need to wait on hold or visit the practice
  • Faster responses: Requests are triaged directly through the FootFall dashboard
  • Secure and simple: Patients feel confident using an NHS-approved platform

Benefits for practices

  • Reduce phone calls and admin workload
  • Simplify triage workflows with clear routing and priority tags
  • Integrate with NHS systems, saving valuable staff time
  • Collect data and feedback for continuous improvement

How it works

  • Patient visits your practice website

  • Selects the Online Consultation GP option

  • Completes a short form or requests an NHS GP telephone consultation

  • Submission routes into your FootFall dashboard
    Practice team triages and responds efficiently

    It’s intuitive, fast and built to suit the day to day reality of NHS primary care.

online consultation gp

Trusted by NHS Practices, PCNs and ICBs

FootFall is a trusted NHS online consultation solution, used across hundreds of GP practices, PCNs and ICBs nationwide.

Our digital front door NHS model has helped teams improve access, reduce pressure on receptionists and deliver a better patient experience – all while staying compliant with NHS digital standards.

“A big advantage is the Patient Form Control feature, it has been really helpful for the practice to have control of the forms and has helped us to control the flow of demand.”

“We have been actively recommending FootFall to other practices in the area.”

Lindsay Brynes, Practice Manager, Carolside Medical Centre

Case study: how one practice reduced calls by 30%

How Carolside Medical Centre streamlined access with FootFall

Carolside Medical Centre introduced FootFall’s online consultation GP system to handle patient requests digitally. Within three months, phone calls dropped by 40%, and a 15% increase in demand was managed effectively.

Patients reported higher satisfaction scores, and staff felt the workload was finally manageable – a clear win for both sides of the digital front door.

online consultation gp

Ready to transform patient access?

Discover how FootFall can help your patients consult their GP online while saving your team valuable admin time.

Experience the future healthcare

Join practices using FootFall, today

Silicon Practice News and Resources

Deep dive into the latest trends and insights shaping the primary care industry. Explore practical resources and expert advice to stay ahead of the curve and navigate the ever-evolving landscape with Silicon Practice.

cancer help and support

The hardest part of cancer care often happens between appointments

Cancer help and support does not stop when an appointment ends. For many patients and carers, the hardest moments come between visits, when symptoms change, questions surface and reassurance feels distant. This blog explores why anxiety often peaks outside the clinic, how information gaps affect confidence and behaviour, and where simple, patient centred digital support can quietly make a difference. It focuses on practical ways services can strengthen support without adding burden.

Read More »
nhs 10 year health plan

The NHS 10 Year Health Plan, why 2026 feels like a turning point

The NHS 10 Year Health Plan sets out a long term shift towards community care, prevention and digital services. Alongside the NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan and the medium term planning framework, it signals a move away from constant crisis response and towards something more deliberate and sustainable. This article explores why 2026 feels like a genuine turning point, what the changes mean for staff and patients, and why progress may be slow, uneven, but still important.

Read More »
gp online consultation

GP online consultation – the future of patient access in the NHS

A GP online consultation offers patients a simpler way to reach their practice, often without the stress of long phone queues or rushed conversations. It helps teams handle requests more smoothly, improve triage and create a more flexible workflow that fits the reality of busy NHS days. This approach isn’t perfect for every situation, but it’s becoming an essential part of modern primary care and a practical step toward better access for patients.

Read More »
digital patient engagement platform

6 examples of digital patient engagement platform transforming care in the NHS

Digital transformation in the NHS is accelerating, and at its heart are tools that connect patients and healthcare teams more effectively. This blog explores 6 examples of digital patient engagement platforms transforming care in the NHS – from online triage and patient apps to health monitoring and education tools. Each example highlights how technology is improving communication, streamlining workloads and empowering patients to take a more active role in their health, driving better outcomes across the NHS.

Read More »