Push Doctor is to provide digital healthcare for more than 300,000 people in West London through a new partnership with an NHS trust.

The company has been chosen as the digital partner for Hounslow GP Practices supported by Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare (HRCH) NHS Trust.

The move will give more than 300,000 people in the Hounslow community direct access to digital NHS GP appointments, whilst reducing workload for GPs in 45 practices.

Patients will have direct access to book appointments from their smartphone or device 24/7. Appointments include same day prescriptions, instant sick notes and record syncing, where doctor’s notes will be available to the patient’s local GP surgery.

The Push Doctor platform will provide digital appointments with clinicians in multiple languages.

CEO Wais Shaifta said: “The breadth of this service will deliver a significant uplift in digital GP resource to over 300,000 patients across 45 practices in the Hounslow area. Not only does this mean better and more equal access to health support for those who need it, but it will remove non-essential footfall for GP practices, freeing up more time for GPs to see patients who really need face-to-face care.

“We’re proud to have been chosen to be a true digital partner of Hounslow Practices and HRCH and are excited to supercharge what they’ve already been doing under the NHS banner.

“Beyond the use of video consultations during the pandemic, the benefits of digital are clear and must become a core part of the healthcare landscape in the future. We hope this is the start of a new delivery model that will set up a future digital NHS across the country.”

The partnership will start with GP appointments, with potential to bring on additional clinician types such as nurses at a later date.

Dr Akhil Mayor, PCN deputy clinical director for Hounslow Health, said: “The impact of COVID-19 on our community has been heart-breaking.

“We are set for another tough year, but this patient-led service should give our community better, quicker access to GPs and other healthcare professionals. We hope this will be another step towards helping local people get the care they need.”