Rapid Health is AI-based triage tool approved by the NHS. It will be our new online triage tool replacing Accurx. It involves the patient completing a short questionnaire, which is then triaged. The system

• Prioritises your request based on medical need 

• Offers an appointment (if suitable)

• Sends your request to our clinical team to review if needed

• All this without your need to speak to the reception team.

You can watch a quick 2 minute explainer video here: Watch Video

• We have listened to patient feedback and recognise that accessing appointments, including online booking, is important to you.  
• With the ever-growing demand within the NHS, we are continuously looking at ways we can increase the capacity
• To achieve this, and ensure patients are receiving the best possible care, we have opted to use the Rapid Health triage tool, which will allow us to maximise availability and ensure patients are seeing the right clinician in the appropriate time frame.

It offers many benefits including:

• Faster assessment using smart triage offering quicker assessment and a suitable appointment
• Improved Patient experience by reducing waiting and phone queues, avoiding the 8 am rush
• More convenient appointment options
• Safe and secure – Smart triage is classed as a Class 1 medical device by the Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency and meets all NHS security and clinical safety standards

The planned date for Rapid Health launch is 23rd June 2025, the request form will be active from 7am-6:30 pm Monday to Friday (Excl Bank Holidays)

Click here to access Rapid Health.
We understand that not everyone can do this online. Reception will still be here to help and take you through a short medical questionnaire which will offer you an appointment within an appropriate time.

Rapid Health is compatible with all devices, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops and computers

How can I access Rapid Health?

•         Rapid health can be found on our website (www.watlingstreetpractice.co.uk)
•        Or Via QR code in the practice
•        Or call the practice and get a link in a text message
•        Or the reception team can complete the same form with you

• Booking for someone else: Allowed with consent and necessary details, provided the patient is registered at the practice
• Any patients: Can request online

      You can book GP appointments, appointments with our Allied health professionals, including same-day emergency appointments as well as pre-bookable appointments.

The following types of appointments can be requested via the admin section, by calling the surgery or using the self booking link sent by the practice:

• Nurse / HCA appointments (i.e. dressings, removal of stitches, injections, contraception, etc.)
• Blood tests (these can be booked via the links sent via practice, or contact reception)
• Smear appointments (these can be booked via links sent by the practice, or contact reception)
• Contraceptive procedures (implants and coils)
• Steroid injections
• Annual reviews for chronic conditions (e.g. Diabetes, Respiratory, Cardiac, Learning Disabilities)
• Social Prescriber appointments/follow-ups
• Postnatal appointments and 6-week baby checks
• Home visit 
• Mental Health support worker follows up

       Once your form has been submitted, your request will be triaged, and you may be offered an appointment via self-booking.

      Your information is safe and confidential, Rapid Health is an NHS-approved secure system. Only our authorised staff can access your information, and all responses are added directly to your clinical record.

       If you are not offered an appointment after submitting your request, your request will be reviewed by our Duty team. Based on medical need, you may be

• Offered an appointment immediately
• Be sent a link to book one yourself
• Be contacted by a clinician or practice for further assessment or more information
• Be signposted to relevant services

Will I be offered an appointment same day?

Rapid health system does triage and offers an appointment based on the triage outcome

• Red-same day
• Amber-within 24 hours
• Yellow-within 5 days
• Green- within 2 weeks

Appointments are booked with the most suitable clinician based on your needs, which may be a GP, paramedic, physician associate, clinical pharmacist, advanced nurse practitioner, MSK specialist or podiatrist.

One of the best things about Rapid Triage is when you request an appointment, the system will offer you a choice of dates, times, locations and clinicians where these are available.

I was not offered an appointment. What do I do?

•        Once you have completed our triage questionnaire, we will aim to offer an appointment in the most appropriate time frame.
•         If you have not received an appointment, it means that your request has been passed to the Duty Doctor to review. Reception will be in contact within 48 hours.

What do I do if I want to prebook  an appointment

• All our appointments will be available. After completing the triage form an appointment will be offered within an appropriate time frame. 
• Where appropriate, both telephone and face-to-face appointments will be offered up to 2 weeks in advance.

What if I need a same-day urgent appointment?

• If your problem is clinically urgent, the system will offer you same-day appointments to choose from.

Who will book a follow-up appointment?

•        A clinician will book a follow-up appointment if indicated during your consultation. 
•        If no appointment has been made, you can request a medical request and complete the form same way and include symptoms related to your ongoing condition.

I require an interpreter or special assistance for my appointment.

•        Once your appointment is booked, please contact the practice and notify the Reception Team if you require an interpreter or assistance.

       Yes, all patients will be asked to answer questions using the online form or via the reception team when booking their appointment. Your answers help the system find the right appointment for you.

       This also means the clinician will have the relevant information prior to your appointment, enabling them to have more time to provide quality care to you.

 What should I do if I enter my symptoms in Rapid Health and either no results are found, or listed options don’t apply to me?

•        If no results are shown, or the available options don’t match your symptoms, click the link at the bottom of the screen that says, ‘’Alternatively, you can view the full list of options available to you here.’’ This will allow you to view all the available options.
•        If none of the listed options are suitable, you can select the ‘’can’t find what you are looking for?’ option. This will prompt you to provide general health history, which will be sent to your doctor along with the symptoms or complaints you initially searched for.

Why can’t I write a description of what I am experiencing, like I used to with accurx Patient triage?

•        We understand it can feel easier to simply write down your symptoms but answering a few short questions before booking helps us ensure the best care for you.
•        This process provides your clinician with the most important detail and gets you to see the most appropriate clinician by matching the right type of appointment.

What should I do if I make a mistake on my form and end up with the wrong appointment, or if I want to change the date or time?

• If you need to cancel or change your appointment after completing the form, you can either use the link in the confirmation email to update or cancel your booking or call or call the practice directly.
•        If you cancel because of a mistake on your form but still need an appointment, you can submit a new request to schedule the correct appointment.
•        Please remember to cancel any appointments you no longer need so they can be offered to another patient.

Can I submit more than one issue? 

• Please focus on your main concern in each request. If you have more than one unrelated issue, you may need to submit another request.

What happens if I enter incorrect personal details, like my postcode or date of birth? 

• If you enter incorrect personal details, such as your postcode or date of birth, Rapid Health will not be able to verify your identity. The system will prompt you to correct the information before you can proceed. This ensures that your request is accurately linked to your medical record. 
•        If the details don’t match, you’ll see an error message guiding you to make the necessary corrections.

      Will Rapid Health consider my existing medical conditions?

•        Rapid Health is a triage tool that uses the information you provide to help direct you to the most suitable appointment. 
•       If further evaluation is needed, your request will be sent to a GP for review before an appointment is arranged. 
•       The tool does not review your full medical record, only the information you enter. The care pathways are designed to check for any significant conditions related to your symptoms. However, if you have any relevant pre-existing conditions, please include them in your responses where possible.

 I need a sick note.

• Please fill out the ‘Sick Notes’ tile on our practice website or
•       Complete the Rapid Health admin questionnaire, and one of our administrators will pass your request and information to a Clinician to review.
•       If you need a review before it can be issued, we will contact you to let you know. 

Can I order my prescriptions through this system?

•        This system is mainly for booking appointments, though you may be able to request acute prescriptions if needed and are unable to request through system1 or NHS app.
•         Please continue to order your prescriptions via one of the options on our Prescription page on our website.

 What can I use the Rapid Health system for?

•         To request an appointment for help with medical symptoms or conditions
•         Ask for a sick note or test results
•         Request referral
•         Request for prescription if not registered with the NHS APP/SystmOnline/Airmid
•         Submit a general admin query
•         If you are caring for someone and have their permission, you may also request on their behalf.

What if I need to request a home visit?

•         Please call the practice as soon as possible before 10 am, so the request can be reviewed.

Are other online services still relevant?

Yes, please, continue using other online services like NHS APP, NHS Choices, SystmOnline, Airmid and our practice website to

•         Order repeat prescriptions
•         View your medical records
•   Using local services via our ‘wellbeing centre’ tile on the practice website
•         We recommend using the NHS app for requesting repeat prescriptions and checking your results.

Please make sure that we have your up-to-date email address, as this is required to use the new system. You can do this by:

•         Updating your contact details in the NHS App
•         Replying to a text message we may send you
•         Completing a Change of Contact Details Form on our website here
•         Asking any member of our Reception Team to check and update your record 

And, finally, thank you in advance for bearing with us as we transition to the new system.

There will no doubt be some teething problems, but we hope to keep these to a minimum. All our team have been working very hard to get the setup done and we hope you will enjoy using the new system.