10th June 2024

SystmConnect to replace eConsult for online consultations

SystmConnect allows you to request help with a new or existing health condition; follow-up on a recent consultation or send us in a query you may have about your medication. You can also request a letter from the doctor, repeat medications, a new or renewed Fit Note and query recent test results.

Anything you might usually call us to discuss can be done using SystmConnect. If you already have a SystmOnline account, you can access SystmConnect once you have logged-in to your SystmOnline account. Look towards the bottom left side of the page for ‘Online Consultations’ and click on ‘Launch SystmConnect’ once you have logged-in. Accessing SystmConnect this way will allow the software to pre-populate some of your demographic data, name and address etc.

With multiple IT options now available to patients, how do you decide which is best for you?

The NHS App is very good and the options on there are likely to increase over time and will expand to cover your healthcare across NHS England; not just at the surgery. For example, you may have seen that recently that NHS hospital average waiting times have been added to the App.

If you already have a SystmOnline account then you are probably best advised to keep this and then access the SystmConnect option from your SystmOnline account whenever you have a health concern or query you wish to raise with us. This will provide you with a good combination of all the available options for online contacts with the surgery. If you do not already have a SystmOnline account we would recommend that you request one from the surgery.

Remember that it is you using these systems; if, therefore, you are happy with what you are currently using and it does everything you need it to do, you may well consider remaining as you are. We have previously advised that the surgery wants to move increasingly to using electronic forms of communication as the default, and we see this as a natural progression of this. We encourage each and every patient to consider using these options wherever possible.

The detail below may help to inform your decision.

	See your records?	Online consultation?	Request your medication?	Book appointment?
SystmConnect	No	Yes	Yes (you will have to type out which medications you wish to order)	No
SystmOnline	Yes	No	Yes (you will not have to type out which medications you wish to order)	Cervical Screening appointments only at this time
NHS App	Yes	No	Yes (you will not have to type out which medications you wish to order)	Cervical Screening appointments only at this time

We would like to assure all our patients that we will still continue to send letters to those of you who do not have an email address or mobile phone number on their record.

If you have any queries on this matter please email Craig Massey at bswicb.wgppatientvoice@nhs.net

Thank you

Westbury Group Practice