Rapid Health Avis 34

Absolutely awful. First time I used it, I was offered an appointment at a different GP surgery 3 miles away (I left the appointment and tried the following day) 2nd time I used it I was offered another appointment at yet a different GP surgery (I left it) then decided to do research as I thought it was totally messed up. Little did I know that the town I live in and surrounding areas are now under an umbrella system to get you seen quicker. That's all well and good if this supposedly rapid health worked! I went to book another appointment after answering all the questions for yet the 3rd time and it offered me an appointment at yet a different GP surgery but I accepted it due to needing to be seen (I really want an appointment at my own GP practice not a random practice that I've never registered with 🤬 I arrived at the appointment at the different surgery. I spent 10 minutes telling the bloke what my issues and problems were for him to say "I'm sorry but you've been misdirected" I asked what he meant and he said "I'm a physio" 🤦🏻‍♀️ He wasn't even a doctor 😩 I'm already under the physio department at my local hospital and had seen the physio 7 days prior. It took yet another month for me to get an appointment!

I have now just tried to book a follow up appointment with the GP at my own surgery and what makes this system so good damn frustrating is the fact you are answering the same questions again which are the basics. I have yet again fell into the msk category. There needs to be an option where you can input priority details and not just one symptom. There needs to be an option that you want to see the same GP for a follow up/review. There's none of this and it makes it so so hard booking an appointment that should be simple and straightforward with your own gp. I hope this system doesn't last because it's appalling in comparison to my parents gp booking system. This system is so flawed.

Rapid health Is a complete dysfunctional mess. This is so frustrating and The surgeries that use this service are also dysfunctional and due to this mistakes are being made. Appointments take Ten times longer to achieve and not everyone has the ability to use an app. It is about time they did their job better and scrap this service and use the original method, which was better. We don't need AI to make an appointment. The questions are confusing so surgeries start serving the customers and answer the phone to make an appointment.

I just want a free text box to tell my doctor why I want an appointment. Also why do I need separate forms for two related medical needs? And to top it off, I didn't get a working link to book an appointment after I filled in the form. I phoned the surgery and got told the form was the only way to get an appointment but I can't get an appointment with the form!!

I'd give it no stars if I could. I've been trying to sort an appointment for my elderly, deaf mother who's been getting diarrhoea on and off for months. We think it's due to a blood pressure tablet that she's taking. She wants to talk to a doctor about coming off them. I usually sort her problems over the phone but this time she'd like to talk to a doctor herself and needs a face to face appointment so she can lip read. The online form doesn't give any options to explain any of that. I phoned the surgery, the receptionist said they'd had no training but did her best. She had a comment section on the form that patients don't get so explained in more detail. I later got an email from the surgery to say it was a bug and she should take diorolyte! There are going to be deaths because of this new system.

First time used. Awful. Long-winded questionnaire before you get to request care. Repeatedly tried to send me to A&E when not needed, just wanted the reassurance of seeing my GP at my surgery for new symptoms of an underlying condition. How many older people will feel it is too complex and give up? Also, and this is my main gripe, has a disclaimer when sending though a consultation request that you believe you can wait upto 48 hours for care. Could result in many unnecessary deaths! Shockingly bad system which will result in serious harm and many more unnecessary visits to A&E at major cost. To all practices using this please get rid of it or at least have an override when phoning the surgery.

What an absolutely ridiculous way to be running healthcare services. This rapid health process just sends you round and round in circles. Repeatedly tries to send you to A&E when not needed. This would be funny if peoples lives weren't depending on it. Shockingly bad system which will result in serious harm and unnecessary visits to A&E at major cost. To all practices using this please get rid of it.

I only gave it a star because you have to. It’s a dreadful system! 😡 Laborious and irrelevant questions, inadequate outcomes and discriminatory to those that are unable to use online form or are too unwell to go through the for on the telephone with a receptionist.

Today I telephoned a GP surgery on behalf of an elderly lady who are using this system and it took over 10 minutes for the questions to be asked and answered and still at the end of it the questionnaire had to be sent for review to a doctor and so no appointment could be made until this happened! Why the lady needed was an emergency GP appointment and was too unwell to maintain the concentration and energy it took to interact with such a system.

This system is dangerous, particularly for elderly and vulnerable patients. We need a system where a person can either ring for an appointment or book an appointment online simply. These systems are putting a burden on A&E departments because unwell people, understandably, can not be bothered with this antiquated kind of a system. It isn’t helping and potentially I could lead to more deaths or serious injuries. 😡😡

This is a dreadful system thats not fit for purpose. It wouldn’t even let me submit the request once I’d gone through all the hoops to request an appointment. I’m 48 and tech savvy. God help the elderly.

My GP has recently started using this service. It is so complicated and most of the options are disabled. Bad bad bad.

For a start the text in this box to start with is medical gaslighting!.

" what went wrong this time?"

This system is a absolute joke! I need to see a doctor and told I have to wait 1&2 days to be contacted! I've had this issue for nearly 4 weeks!. People are going to be well and truly neglected with this joke of a system in place!. This is constantly directing everyone to a&e so your system is going to make a&e department's that are already overwhelmed have a influx of more people now who just need to see their GP but your bloody system is making that a bloody nightmare!!!!

Dreadful system designed to make it as complex as possible to get an appointment. It takes up staff time, excludes the vunerable or those that cannot use or afford technology and even with technology it takes half an hr of form filling with the most useless detail just to get an appointment with a dr you didnt want to see...do i really need to explain my stools if my arm is sore and what if you want to keep something confidential?!

It is a badly designed system. Nowhere does it ask why you want to see your doctor. The first medical question asks what is your main sympton. Can't find anywhere to say I was told to make an appointment if symptons did not improve. Nor how to describe multiple symptons eg high temperature and nausea. Everytime I hzve to use it I get stressed out and come away thinking I have not ecplained why I want yo see a doctor.So after I use it I then phone surgery to rexplain my symptoms. Also when it does make an appointment it is not clear how to confiem the appointment.

Omg who came up with this idea, it has to be one of the worst NHS decision in decades. Its great if you want an appointment in 3 weeks. I used to be able to call the doctors and see a doctor within hours now all of a sudden overnight they are so busy its weeks. What a joke sort it out "Wes"

Absolutely diabolical system. Severe allergic reactions with breathing issues. Have to wait 3 weeks for a “rash” appointment

None of the older patients in the queue knew anything about this system FORCED upon us. Not everyone has a computer, smartphone or "tablet" or even an email. Poor GP Surgery staff had to fill in on-line forms for us & this took them away from doing other important work. It also took away from us (the digital "illiterate") our agency & autonomy. After "computer said NO" I wrote a real letter to GP's detailing my symptoms & within hours was given an appointment & now being "fast-tracked" through the system - so 10 out of 10 to the Human Beings. "Rapid" Health Triage is a JOKE. Long-winded, Tick-box, clunky system not fit for purpose. Please let your MP's know about this horrible system, so questions can be asked in parliament. Age UK would like to know too!

Update April 2026
This service is excellent for booking appointments. It also means my autistic daughter, who would never phone to book an appointment, can complete this form herself and book with her preferred GP.

October 2025
Our surgery introduced this system yesterday. I was able to book a routine appointment with my GP for myself and my daughter with no problem. There was a slight issue whenI tried to book with another GP for an additional specialist appointment and it wanted to send to triage instead of offering an appointment. I didnt send it as the questions it asked didn't fit with what I needed. So rang surgery and they booked it for me. All good and have the appointments I needed.

Currently in the process of transferring to a new practice which assures me they do not and will never use RapidHealth as their booking system. It’s been impossible to access healthcare at Wells City Practice since RapidHealth has been introduced.

This service doesn't work I haven't seen a GP for months and I suffer with chronic illness. For anyone that is elderly or doesn't understand or even have access to the internet they will they will not get the treatment needed this will likely lead to more strain on NHS emergency services. It is necessary that there should be telephone appointments.

Absolutely insane idea. Further Dilution and degradation of the NHS putting patients at harm. I am being told by AI that I do not classify as high enough priority and may have to wait 4 days to be assessed.
Highly problematic and dangerous from the patients point of view and opening up the NHS to litigation. Ultimately who is responsible for any negligence claims here. NHS or an outsourced AI?

Awful system. Why can't receptionists make appointments like they used to do. When it all goes wrong vwhich it does most of the time even the receptionists say " don't take any notice of that it's rubbish ". Incorrect appointments Incorrect location, net result patients travel to the surgery only to be told they have the wrong time, the wrong place or no appointment at all, it's a disgrace