Total triage is a system where every patient contacting a GP practice provides information about the reason for their contact before any appointment is booked. It has been designed to get as many patients using the online route as possible to submit their requests, this has many advantages including:
- Taking pressure off the phones so those who need to use the phone benefit from short wait times (basically all patients then benefit).
- Reception staff have more time to help these, generally more vulnerable, patients.
- You have a validated digital route to communicate by message with the patient.
Total triage allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests to their own GP electronically, and offers around the clock NHS self-help information, signposting to services, and a symptom checker.
Total triage has been built by NHS GPs for NHS patients, designed to enhance patient access, improve practice efficiencies and signpost patients to the right place at the right time for their care.