Thousands of people have been unable to make GP appointments online after a website company suddenly collapsed into administration.
Hundreds of GP surgeries across the UK have been left scrambling to contact patients after software company Silicon Practise entered administration without warning.
Those attempting to make urgent or routine appointments with their doctor online have been redirected either to the NHS website or been met with a bad gateway message on their browser.
Silicon Practice, which claims to proudly serve 1,000 websites for GP practices, has been partnering with the NHS since 2005.
Its parent company Schappit Ltd filed a notice of administration earlier this month, and yesterday patients of GP practices across the country received alerts telling them their surgery website would not be available.
Southgate Surgery in north London told patients that their website for routine issues only is currently unavailable because their provider went into administration without warning, adding they apologise for the inconvenience and that this is temporary while they find a new provider.
Other practices took to social media channels to update patients, including Cranfield and Marston Surgery in Bedford.
They wrote on Facebook that the Marston Forest Healthcare practice website is currently unavailable following their website provider, Silicon Practice, entering administration.
They added they received official communication from their Integrated Care Board confirming this situation, which is affecting many GP practices across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and that their online patient dashboard is currently not working.
They stated they are urgently working with a new provider to restore their websites and online dashboard as quickly as possible, while reassuring patients that surgeries remain open and patient services continue via telephone, Anima or in person.
Meanwhile, the Downland Practice in Newbury said on its Facebook page that their website has been removed and online consultation services are currently unavailable.
Its staff requested that patients with non-urgent requests and queries wait until Monday, November 2, to contact their GP, to help keep the phone lines clear for those with urgent problems.
Patients who are affected by the change should still be able to get in touch with their surgery over the phone and in person.
NHS England confirmed GPs using Silicon Practice will be affected, but did not say how long for.
A spokesperson stated that while the majority of GP practice websites are running as normal, some practices which use Silicon Practice will be affected by the company going into administration, and advised that anyone needing help should contact their practice by phone or in person as usual.
