“Questions must be asked” about the lack of warning before hundreds of practice websites went offline after an online provider entered administration, GP leaders say.They have also questioned why there doesn’t seem to be a coordinated national contingency plan for the failure of a provider delivering critical NHS infrastructure.Hundreds of general practice websites in England and Wales suddenly went offline on 28 October after their online provider—Silicon Practice—entered administration.The software company claimed on its website to provide services for more than 1000 general practices.NHS England said that less than 500 practices had been affected—under 10% of the total number of practices in England and Wales.Reacting, Sarah Jacques, GP co-lead of the Doctors’ Association UK. said: “The sudden loss of websites and online consultation services across hundreds of [general] practices is deeply concerning.”“These are no longer optional extras; they are essential routes through which patients access care.”A notice of administration was…
