A GP practice in Oxfordshire has asked patients with “routine concerns” to wait until Monday amid a global IT outage.
The Windrush Medical Practice in Witney is among thousands of GP practices across England that have been affected by the global IT outage, which has hampered the booking of appointments and issuing of prescriptions.
The practice based in Welch Way continued to be open for “urgent enquiries” despite a nationwide outage of their booking system.
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NHS England said there was an issue with the EMIS Web system, which is understood to be used by about 60 per cent of practices in England.
In a statement, Windrush Medical Practice in Witney, said: “There is a nationwide outage of our booking system EMIS.
“We’re continuing as normal for urgent enquiries but ask for routine concerns to wait until Monday.
“Please continue to submit your queries through Engage Consult. Thank you.”
It is understood that around 3,700 GP practices may be affected nationally.
A spokeswoman for NHS England said: “The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system, which is causing disruption in the majority of GP practices.
“The NHS has long-standing measures in place to manage the disruption, including using paper patient records and handwritten prescriptions, and the usual phone systems to contact your GP.
“There is currently no known impact on 999 or emergency services, so people should use these services as they usually would.
“Patients should attend appointments unless told otherwise. Only contact your GP if it’s urgent, and otherwise please use 111 online or call 111.”
GP surgeries have reported on social media that they are unable to access patient records or book appointments due to the outage.
Pharmacies also reported issues with accessing prescriptions from GP surgeries and said this would affect the delivery of medicines to patients.
EMIS Web is the most widely used clinical system for primary care in the UK.
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It enables GP practices to book appointments, examine records and include a clinical decision support tool as well as helping with admin.
A spokesman for the National Pharmacy Association said pharmacies were affected.
He said: “We’re aware that due to global IT outages services in community pharmacies, including the accessing of prescriptions from GPs and medicine deliveries, are disrupted today. We urge patients to be patient whilst visiting their pharmacy.
“We’re urgently raising this issue with the NHS England.”
“This will have a big effect on us, so apologies in advance for the inconvenience caused and delays on the phone.”
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