A record eight million online requests were submitted by patients in October after the requirement was introduced, up by one-fifth on the previous month, and an increase of two-thirds on last year.

Health secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘In the 21st century, patients expect to be able to manage healthcare at their fingertips, and so they should. We organise so much of our lives online, there's no reason the NHS should be any different.

‘I want to thank GPs and their teams for rolling this out. Eight million patients used online access in October alone, taking advantage of the flexibility and convenience. These numbers show there was huge appetite from patients and a can-do attitude from GPs. We promised to end the 8am scramble, and this is a massive step towards that ambition.'

The move to allow online consultation requests during work hours (8am – 6.30pm) has caused controversy, however, with a BMA survey showing more than half (55%) of practices had seen a negative effect on patient care.

The BMA went into dispute with the Government following the introduction of the change on 1 October warning it would cause an online triage tsunami.

Dr David Wrigley, the BMA's deputy chair of the General Practice Committee, England said: ‘This announcement is unsurprising, given that the BMA advised all its members to comply with the changes introduced by the Government on 1 October 2025. We are not standing in the way of progress, but standing up for patient safety as many GP practices are being deluged with online requests, and the software simply does not filter out routine from urgent requests. GPs will embrace new technology, but only when it is safe to do so and with nearly all GP practices now offering online access for patients, the Government has merely increased the potential for patient safety issues to arise. Without appropriate safeguards, this Government is ignoring the very real concerns that GPs have about this system and it is putting patients at risk of harm.'

Ruth Rankine, primary care director at the NHS Confederation, said: ‘Today's figures show the real progress primary care teams are making in giving patients more choice in how they access their GP. Online requests are helping practices manage demand safely and efficiently, while giving patients greater flexibility in how they seek help.

‘But digital access must complement – not replace – face-to-face care, and practices need continued investment and support to keep pace with rising demand. If we are serious about easing pressure on A&Es this winter, then sustaining and strengthening primary care must remain a top priority.'