GP practice website review

With the internet rapidly becoming an essential resource in most households, websites are of growing importance to our everyday lives. In August 2014, Healthwatch North Somerset carried out a review of the websites of GP Practices across the area. Over a period of two weeks in August 2014 Healthwatch North Somerset viewed each North Somerset GP Practice website.

In conclusion, there are many aspects that need to be considered for GP Practices to create accessible, user-friendly websites. The website should be easy to find, and users should be greeted by a welcoming, warm feel once they enter the site. The website should then be easy to navigate, clearly laid out and labelled, and important information should be clear and easy to locate. It is important to find a balance between giving plenty of helpful information, while also aiming not to overload the reader, as this can be off-putting. However, it is just as important for the website not to be too basic, as this does not give a warm, welcoming reflection of the GP surgery itself. It is also important to maintain a balance between having a modern, up-to-date website with the offer of online services, but also to make sure that a particular section of the patient population is not excluded by exclusively offering services online. Overall, the websites in the North Somerset area, reviewed by Healthwatch North Somerset, were accessible and easy to use. Every website had its strengths, with some excelling in particular areas. In the report it suggests, there are some which would benefit from some minor adjustments, in order to make them more accessible and user-friendly, but also to look appealing on the screen. The overall appearance of the website is an important aspect, as it sets the tone of the site, and gives an overall impression of the GP surgery that it represents, and the service it has to offer.