Looking for Online Booking Software for NHS services? Hero Health has you covered.
Online booking software has become essential for NHS GP practices and service providers looking to offer patients a convenient way to schedule appointments while easing the administrative load on practice staff.
Within primary care, there are several online booking platforms, including Patient Access, the NHS App, SystmOnline that utilise the same Patient Facing Services API interface. Hero Health is an alternative that uses a different API and offers enhanced functionality. This guide breaks down the options and compares key features to help GP practices decide on the best online booking system.
Online booking systems offer an efficient and accessible way for patients to book appointments without calling the practice. They help reduce phone line congestion, improve appointment access, and provide an organized booking process for patients and staff alike.
Hero goes beyond just appointment booking, offering features like customizable intake forms, booking restrictions, and visibility into available slots before login.
Beyond the standard 'see time and book' functionality that you'd expect in any online booking solution, you should also consider the following:
1. Intake Forms: Do you need to capture additional information before appointments?
2. Restrictions by Age or Gender: Can the software restrict bookings based on patient demographics?
3. Cross-Organizational Booking: Does the system support booking across multiple sites or networks?
4. User-Friendly Interface: Does the software offer a simple, NHS-compliant booking process?
5. Visibility of Appointment Slots Before Login: Can patients view availability without logging in?
Patient Access allows patients to book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions, and access parts of their medical records. It’s integrated directly with many GP systems, offering seamless functionality.
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Cons (for appointment booking)
The NHS App is a comprehensive patient-facing app providing appointment booking, symptom checking, and access to NHS services.
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SystmOnline provides an online booking portal, allowing patients to schedule appointments and manage prescriptions. It’s compatible with TPP SystmOne practices, making it a reliable choice for these users.
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Hero is the advanced booking solution you've been looking for. Designed to meet the unique needs of NHS GP practices, PCNs, and Federations.
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Hero Health offers the ability to view available appointment slots before logging in, making it easier for patients to browse availability quickly. Other platforms generally require login before viewing slots.
Hero Health provides advanced booking restrictions based on age and gender, allowing practices to control access to certain appointment types (e.g., cervical smear tests only for females over 35).
No, Hero Health is the only platform offering customizable intake forms that capture additional information before an appointment, which can be useful for triaging and streamlining in-clinic processes.
Hero uniquely supports cross-organizational bookings, making it ideal for PCNs and Federations. It allows patients to book with different sites within the same network, which other platforms currently do not support.
The best online booking software for NHS GP practices depends on each practice's specific needs. For practices seeking basic functionality with high patient trust, Patient Access, SystmOnline or the NHS App may be sufficient.
However, for GP practices that need advanced customization, intake forms, booking restrictions, or cross-site capabilities, Hero stands out as the optimal choice. Its flexibility, cross-organizational booking features, and ability to gather essential patient information make it a valuable tool for practices looking to streamline their booking process while offering a superior patient experience.
