Advantages of online GP booking systems | Letters
GPs in England are missing a trick (GPs in England threaten action over online appointment booking plan, 29 September).The point about non-urgent GP appointments is that they do not need triage – if a patient wants to see a primary care clinician for a routine concern, they can do so, whatever the issue.The number of routine slots available remains the same, and allowing people to book them online will reduce, not increase, workload by freeing up reception staff for other admin tasks, and making it easier to get through on the phone for urgent appointments.It’s urgent requests, not routine ones, that need triage.The big problem in primary care is the mismatch between demand and capacity, not how appointments are booked.
Health policy interventions by the government that make sense are an extremely rare thing,This is one of them,Martin Giebner Advanced nurse practitioner, Duns, Scottish Borders I have no fears of online GP appointment booking via triage as my practice adopted it a while ago,The practice graduated from a telephone “care navigator” system, which worked well, to the current online method,Via both routes, my experience has been exceptional, with responses sometimes within 90 minutes, and directions to attend the same day to see a GP or advanced practitioner, to receive a prescription at my local pharmacy, or to get advice via text or telephone.
Initial access by phone still exists for those unable to use the new method,The online system creates better-targeted appointments, which surely means that an appropriate number of doctors can be reallocated to service the triage system,The use of emotive language by the British Medical Association such as “tsunami” and “barrage” in anticipating the effect of online booking is not helpful or accurate,Robust patient education and support will help more,Jonathan HauxwellCross Hills, North Yorkshire Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Jaguar Land Rover launches phased restart at factories after cyber-attack
Jaguar Land Rover has launched a phased restart of its manufacturing operations, more than a month after the British carmaker was hit by a crippling cyber-attack, as it revealed its sales had dropped sharply in a “challenging quarter”.The maker of Jaguar and Land Rover cars has been scrambling to get its systems up and running again after the hack on the last day of August forced it to shut down factories and retail operations around the world.JLR also announced a new financing scheme to provide its struggling suppliers with cash upfront during the restart period. This means those that qualify will be paid much faster than usual, aiding their cashflow, it said. The scheme will then be expanded to include some non-production suppliers
EU to raise tariffs on foreign steel imports; UK investors quit ‘sky-high’ stock markets at record pace – business live
The EU is to take a leaf out of Donald Trump’s playbook and increase tariffs on foreign steel imports as the local industry, particularly in Germany, is threatened with “collapse” in the face of cheap Chinese imports and 50% punitive tariffs imposed by the US in June.In a major shift in policy, the European Commission is expected to propose doubling the current 25% tariff to 50% on foreign steel while at the same time drastically reducing the current quota for duty-free imports.The bloc’s industry commissioner Stéphane Séjourné in Strasbourg said this morning:“The European steel industry was on the verge of collapse - we are protecting it so that it can invest, decarbonise, and become competitive again.”He insisted the move was not the same as Trump’s blunt 50% steel tariff that applies, with some exceptions such as the UK, across the globe.The EU tariff, in contrast, will only apply after a quota of foreign imports has been filled, with all foreign imports below that duty-free
AirPods Pro 3 review: better battery, better noise cancelling, better earbuds
Apple’s extremely popular AirPods Pro Bluetooth earbuds are back for their third generation with a better fit, longer battery life, built-in heart rate sensors and more effective noise cancelling, and look set to be just as ubiquitous as their predecessors.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more.It has been three years since the last model, but the earbuds still come only in white and you really have to squint at the details to spot the difference from the previous two generations
OpenAI signs multibillion-dollar chip deal with AMD
OpenAI and the chipmaker AMD announced on Monday that they had signed a multibillion-dollar chip deal that would also give the ChatGPT creator the option to buy a large stake in the chipmaker.The deal offers OpenAI an opportunity to buy 10% in AMD and marks a major vote of confidence in the company’s AI chips and software. Shares of AMD surged more than 30% and added about $80bn to its market capitalization after the announcement.“We view this deal as certainly transformative, not just for AMD, but for the dynamics of the industry,” said Forrest Norrod, AMD’s executive vice-president.The latest deal, among a string of investment commitments, is a testament to OpenAI and the broader AI industry’s voracious appetite for computing power as companies race toward developing AI technology that meets or exceeds human intelligence
England v Bangladesh: Women’s Cricket World Cup – live
40th over: Bangladesh 121-5 (Mostary 51, Fahima 7) Capsey is knocked away for three singles – Fahima tries to go big but can’t find the middle of the bat. She’s on seven off 23 deliveries.39th over: Bangladesh 118-5 (Mostary 50, Fahima 5) Tash Farrant, on commentary, laments a lack of footwork from the Bangladesh batters against England’s spinners – they haven’t really got the sweep out either.38th over: Bangladesh 117-5 (Mostary 50, Fahima 4) There it is: Mostary dabs the ball into the off side off Dean to reach 50 for the first time in international cricket. She gets there off 92 deliveries, a special moment for the 23-year-old who walked out at 25 for two
The Breakdown | David Bishop on a rugby career full of regret
The former Wales and Pontypool scrum-half has written an autobiography on a life blighted by violence and reflects on the punch that ended his international careerImagine, for a moment, the following scenario. Having broken his neck in a freak rugby accident and avoided paralysis by a millimetre, the player concerned is back for a meeting with his spinal consultant. The specialist advice is crystal clear. Make the most of your second chance and, if you fancy staying alive, never do either of the following again: dive off a high board or resume playing rugby.And now just imagine being the kind of guy who leaves the room and immediately nips home to pick up his swimming trunks before heading to the nearest swimming pool
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Australia Post releases footage of posties being hit by cars as it urges drivers to ‘keep an eye out’
‘We want justice’: workers at Amazon warehouses in Saudi Arabia still waiting on financial redress
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Trevor Lawrence’s trip and score TD leads Jaguars to thrilling late win over Chiefs
Marnus Labuschagne dropped from Australia ODI squad to face India