Jargon buster

Term

Meaning

Advanced access

Focus is on giving patients a choice of time for an appointment, with the intent to give patients an appointment on the same day that they called their practice.

Asynchronous consultation

No ‘real time’ interaction between the patient and clinician e.g. messaging via text or email.

Commuter slot

Commuter friendly GP appointments e.g. in the evening.

DNA

Did not attend.

Doctor First

A commercial appointment system where all patients speak to a GP on the same day that they called their practice.

E-Consult

A commercial online triage and consultation platform.

NHS 111 telephone service

Free to use service that patients can use to get help for

urgent health problems. Call advisors triage and assess callers and direct or refer them to an appropriate service (e.g. emergency care, GP) or pass to a clinician for further assessment and advice. 

NHS 111 online

A web based version of NHS 111. After completing self-assessment and triage online the user is provided with information on what to do next (e.g. attend a specific service, undertake self-care). Some users may request or receive a call back from a clinician.

NHS Digital

Organisation within the NHS that has responsibility for the development and management of digital technology across the NHS.

Open surgery

Sit and wait to be seen by a health care professional with no scheduled appointments.

Patient Access

A commercial online platform that allows access to GP services including booking appointments.

Remote by default

Telephone, online and video for first contacts and triage.

Same day appointment

Appointment scheduled on same day as initial contact.

Telephone First

Patient care is managed on the basis of a telephone call first. Patients requesting an appointment are called by a GP. A face to face consultation may be offered subsequently if deemed necessary.

Total Triage

Every contact is first assessed by phone, online or email before an appointment is offered.