Introducing Rapid Health
A quicker way to get the care you need!
You told us it has been difficult to get an appointment in a timely manner and that you can’t see your usual GP each time you need to book an appointment, so we have been working hard to make it easier!
From the 14th May 2025 Chawton House Surgery will be introducing Rapid Health – Smart Triage, a new tool to manage appointments booked via the telephone, online, or face to face.
This new system uses smart technology and clinical algorithms to triage requests for medical appointments. It can determine the most appropriate clinician and a suitable timeframe for you to be seen.
If you are aged 16 or over – you are then able to book your appointment straight away.
For children aged under 16 – there is an additional safety check by one of our Clinical Team, and
you will then be contacted to book an appointment.
What are the benefits?
- Equal access to appointments – whether you contact us online, by telephone, or in-person, all requests will be processed in the same way.
- Easier to contact us – by encouraging those who can complete the form online to do so, our Reception Team will have more time to spend helping those who need it.
- Improved continuity of care – digital triage will free up GP time, meaning they have more appointments available to see their patients.
- Enhanced Patient Experience – The triage process reduces wait times and unnecessary visits, providing a smoother, more efficient experience for our patients.
- Avoid the 8am rush – Patients being able to book themselves into a greater number of appointments will help us to tackle the ‘8am rush’, and ensure a more even flow of appointments throughout the week.
- Safety – Smart Triage is approved as a Class 1 medical device by MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and meets all the NHS security and clinical safety standards. You will no longer need to rely on a receptionist to book you into an appropriate appointment.
How does it work?
Patients can access Rapid Health through the home page of our website (from 14th May) then:
What is happening in preparation for the new system?
As with any change, there is lots of work going on behind the scenes to ensure our staff, systems, and patients are ready. Here’s what you can expect:
- Recording email addresses – if we don’t have an email address recorded for you, you may be asked for this over the next few weeks as this will be required to enable you to automatically book an appointment when you have completed the questions.
- Switching off eConsult – to ensure that all requests are completed before the change, our current eConsultation service will be switched off from Thursday 24th April.
- No pre-booked appointments – we are currently fully booked for routine appointments between now and 14th May for all our GP’s so we will be operating an urgent only service on the day between now and when we go live with Rapid Health on the 14th May for issues that cannot wait. For routine appointments after the 14th May please contact us as normal or use Rapid Health to book directly into appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t go online?
Don’t worry! Though online will be the quickest way to complete the questions, if you prefer to contact us on the telephone or in-person, one of our Reception Team will be able to complete the questions for you.
Will this be for ALL appointments?
No – for appointments with our Nursing Team, such as injections and dressings, or for other checks such as annual reviews and post-natal care, these will still be booked via Reception. If you are unsure, just ask.
Can Rapid Health be used for administrative queries?
Yes – you can use the system to request administrative help such as sick notes, referral queries, test results or travel questionnaires.
Click here for 41 other Frequently Asked Questions
