Patient access to general practice websites, online bookings, and digital consultations has been disrupted across large parts of England and Wales following the collapse of a key healthcare technology supplier. Silicon Practice, which provided digital infrastructure and website tools for approximately 500 medical practices—representing nearly 10 percent of all practices in England—has entered administration, abruptly cutting off vital online portals.
Clinics in regions including London, Gloucestershire, and Norfolk reported immediate technical failures, while services in parts of Wales were also impacted. The sudden outage forced medical offices to revert to traditional communication channels, with patients advised to schedule appointments and seek non-emergency assistance via telephone or by visiting their surgeries in person.
Medical leaders warned that the collapse of the tech firm presents significant operational challenges. General practice operations have grown heavily reliant on digital booking systems, particularly following a mandate introduced last year requiring all practices in England to offer online appointment scheduling. Official figures indicate that more than 40 percent of all GP appointments are now booked through digital channels.
An NHS England spokesperson acknowledged the technical failures, stating that while the majority of practice websites nationwide continue to run normally, those relying on Silicon Practice’s infrastructure are affected. Affected surgeries have been contacted directly by NHS England with continuity guidance designed to sustain patient care and mitigate disruption.
Silicon Practice supplied the digital tool FootFall, a platform marketed as capable of reducing telephone inquiry volume by 30 percent. The software was designed to relieve administrative pressure on reception staff and manage patient demand across more than 1,000 UK healthcare locations.
Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, vice president of the Royal College of GPs, emphasized the severity of the technological failure. General practice websites have become an increasingly vital avenue for patients seeking medical appointments and service information, she noted.
When websites are not working, it can be hugely disruptive for patients and place additional pressures on already stretched practice teams, Tzortziou Brown said, stressing that affected surgeries require urgent, practical assistance from health authorities to restore digital services and clarify alternative communication pathways for patients.
