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7.2. Why and how to create a website
Patients have an increasing appetite for information about GP services.
A website can be a cost-effective way to communicate and engage with your patients 24/7. Setting up a website is not too difficult, can cost very little and generally pays for itself through efficiency savings such as fewer calls to reception.
Benefits
- Usually quick and easy to set up and edit the content.
- Can be used to promote the practice.
- Can host a range of innovative features such as online booking, ordering of repeat prescriptions and pre-registration - freeing up telephone lines and reducing the pressure on reception and administrative staff.
- Can provide patients with live, up-to-date information about services.
- Use it to interact with patients through newsletters, videos, podcasts and pictures.
Drawbacks
- A member of the practice team will need to take responsibility for keeping the site up to date.
- Not all patients have access to a computer or the internet.
- Technological problems can irritate patients and be time-consuming to fix.
Costs
Costs can vary significantly. If you want to design a site yourself it can be done very cheaply but might be very time-consuming. There are lots of companies that will do it for you but look around for a good deal.
Features to consider
You can make a website do a few simple things or go for a fully interactive and comprehensive site that offers many convenient features for patients. Use the functionality of your website to its full potential as this will increase how much it is used.
Common features include:
- core information and advice taken from your practice leaflet, and a version that can be downloaded by patients and printed;
- online appointment booking and cancelling (linking to your GP system);
- repeat prescription forms and systems;
- a registration page with a downloadable GMS1 form (or interactive form) with instructions on how to register and a map of the boundary;
- newsletters and bulletin boards;
- pictures of staff and of the practice – which patients like;
- patient survey zones and feedback forms;
- links to other helpful sites;
- a secure summary of patient records; and
- useful phone numbers and email addresses.
Tip
You can make text available in different sizes and languages to make the website as accessible as possible. Have a look at BrowseAloud.
Tip
Don't make the site too lengthy or text heavy as it will become harder to update and may appeal less to patients.
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