Hundreds of GP Websites Go Offline After Healthcare Website Provider Enters Administration
Hundreds of GP surgeries across England and Wales face website disruptions after Silicon Practice enters administration. Find out how patients can contact their GP and access essential services.
Introduction
Thousands of patients across England and Wales are experiencing difficulties accessing their GP surgeries online after healthcare website provider Silicon Practice entered administration unexpectedly. The disruption has affected hundreds of GP practices, leaving patients unable to use certain online appointment booking systems, patient dashboards, and consultation services.
The sudden outage has caused concern among patients who rely on digital platforms to manage routine healthcare needs. Some GP surgery websites have become inaccessible, while others redirect visitors to the NHS website or display technical error messages.
Although the disruption has affected online services, GP surgeries remain open, and patients can still contact their practices by telephone or visit them in person when necessary.
Here is what patients need to know about the reported outage, the services affected, and the alternative ways to access GP care.
What Happened to GP Surgery Websites?
The disruption followed the entry into administration of Silicon Practice, a company that provides website services to GP surgeries. According to the original report published by The Sun on 29 October 2026, the company's parent business, Schappit Ltd, had filed a notice of administration earlier in the month.
Patients began receiving notifications that their GP surgery websites would no longer be available. The sudden nature of the announcement left practices working to inform patients and identify alternative providers.
Silicon Practice reportedly claimed to support approximately 1,000 websites for GP practices and had worked with the NHS since 2005.
The outage has raised concerns about the reliance of healthcare services on third-party technology providers. When a company responsible for essential digital infrastructure experiences financial difficulties, the consequences can extend beyond the business itself and affect patients trying to access healthcare information.
However, the reported website outage does not automatically mean that GP surgeries have closed or that all NHS services are affected.
How Many GP Surgeries Have Been Affected?
More than 600 GP surgeries are thought to have been affected by the disruption, according to the supplied news report. The precise number of practices experiencing problems and the duration of the outage have not been confirmed.
The impact has reportedly extended across several areas, including Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes.
Individual practices have issued updates to explain which services are unavailable and how patients can contact them while replacement arrangements are being made.
For example, Southgate Surgery in north London informed patients that its website was temporarily unavailable because its provider had entered administration. The practice apologised for the inconvenience and said it was looking for a new provider.
Cranfield & Marston Surgery also notified patients through social media, explaining that its website and online patient dashboard were unavailable. The practice reassured patients that its surgeries remained open and that services were continuing.
Meanwhile, the Downland Practice in Newbury reported that its website had been removed and that online consultation services were temporarily unavailable.
These updates highlight how a single technology provider's financial collapse can disrupt digital access across multiple healthcare practices.
Which GP Services Are Unavailable?
The exact services affected vary between GP surgeries. However, the reported disruption has primarily involved online platforms used to access practice information and submit requests.
Depending on the practice, patients may experience difficulties with:
- Online appointment requests: Patients may be unable to submit routine appointment requests through their usual surgery website.
- Online consultations: Digital consultation forms and systems may be temporarily inaccessible.
- Patient dashboards: Some online portals used to manage patient interactions may no longer work.
- Practice information: Patients may be unable to access their surgery's website for opening hours, contact details, or service updates.
- Routine enquiries: Patients who normally submit non-urgent questions online may need to use alternative contact methods.
It is important to remember that not every GP surgery is affected. Practices using other website providers may continue to operate their online services normally.
Patients should therefore check the latest information issued by their own surgery rather than assuming that all GP websites are unavailable.
How Can Patients Contact Their GP During the Outage?
Despite the disruption, patients still have several ways to contact their GP surgery.
1. Telephone the GP Surgery
Calling the practice directly is the main alternative for patients who cannot access online services.
Patients should use the telephone number they normally contact or check an official NHS directory for their practice's details.
Telephone lines may experience increased demand during the outage, so patients should explain their needs clearly and follow any instructions provided by surgery staff.
2. Visit the Surgery in Person
Patients who require assistance may also be able to visit their GP surgery in person.
However, it is sensible to telephone first when possible, particularly for routine administrative requests, to confirm the appropriate procedure and avoid an unnecessary journey.
3. Use the NHS App
The original report states that patients with access to the NHS App can still request repeat prescriptions and fit notes through the app.
Availability may depend on the service, the patient's account, and the arrangements in place at their particular practice.
Patients should check the app directly and contact their surgery if a requested service is unavailable.
4. Check Official Practice Updates
Some surgeries are using social media and other communication channels to explain the disruption and share updates.
Patients should prioritise information published by their own GP practice or official NHS services. They should be cautious about relying on unverified posts or sharing personal medical information through unofficial channels.
Will GP Websites Be Restored Soon?
At the time of the report's publication on 29 October 2026, NHS England had acknowledged that practices using Silicon Practice would be affected.
An NHS England spokesperson explained that while most GP practice websites continued to operate normally, some practices using the provider would experience disruption following its entry into administration.
The spokesperson advised patients whose GP websites were unavailable to contact their practices by telephone or in person.
A confirmed nationwide restoration date was not provided.
Some individual surgeries reportedly warned patients that their websites could remain unavailable for up to two weeks while replacement arrangements were explored. This should not be interpreted as a confirmed recovery timeline for every affected practice.
The duration of the disruption may differ between surgeries, depending on how quickly they can secure alternative website services and restore their online systems.
Patients should monitor official practice announcements for updates about the return of appointment booking and online consultation facilities.
What Does This Incident Mean for Digital Healthcare?
The outage highlights the growing importance of reliable digital infrastructure in primary healthcare.
Online systems can make it easier for patients to request appointments, order repeat prescriptions, access information, and communicate with healthcare professionals. For people with mobility difficulties, demanding work schedules, or caring responsibilities, these services can be particularly valuable.
However, the disruption demonstrates the risks of depending on external providers for essential digital functions.
Healthcare organisations may need to consider contingency arrangements, alternative communication channels, data accessibility, and the speed at which services can be transferred to another provider when a supplier fails.
For patients, the immediate priority is knowing how to obtain assistance when their usual online route is unavailable.
Although digital services offer convenience, maintaining accessible telephone and in-person support remains important, particularly during unexpected technical or business disruptions.
What Should Patients Do Now?
If your GP surgery website is not working, do not assume that your practice has closed or that medical assistance is unavailable.
Instead, take the following steps:
- Contact your GP surgery by telephone for appointment requests or other assistance.
- Use the NHS App for available services, including repeat prescription requests where supported.
- Check official communications from your surgery for updates about replacement websites.
- Follow the practice's advice regarding routine requests and avoid repeatedly contacting the surgery about non-urgent matters if it has asked patients to wait.
- Seek urgent medical assistance when necessary rather than delaying care because an online service is unavailable.
For medical emergencies, call 999. If you need urgent medical advice but it is not a life-threatening emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111, where appropriate.
Conclusion
The reported collapse of Silicon Practice has disrupted online access for hundreds of GP surgeries, leaving some patients unable to book appointments or submit requests through their usual digital channels.
Although the situation has created inconvenience and uncertainty, affected practices have advised patients to continue using telephone and in-person contact methods. The NHS App may also provide access to certain services while individual surgeries work to restore their online facilities.
The duration of the disruption remains uncertain, and patients should follow updates from their own GP practice for the latest information.
The incident serves as a reminder that reliable digital healthcare systems must be supported by effective contingency plans so that patients can continue accessing essential services when unexpected disruptions occur.
Source
The Sun, published and updated on 29 October 2026.
Disclaimer
This blog is intended for general informational purposes only. It is based on the supplied news report and does not constitute medical advice or an official NHS announcement. The number of affected practices, the availability of individual services, and the restoration timeline may change. Patients should contact their GP surgery or consult official NHS channels for current guidance. If you need urgent medical assistance, do not delay seeking help because a website is unavailable.