Since 2020, the General Medical Services (GMS) contract has mandated that all GP practices maintain an official website. This is part of an effort to ensure better transparency and accessibility of information for patients.
To meet the requirements of the contract, the practice website must include the following:
Practice Area Information: The website should provide details about the practice’s geographical area, including the outer boundary of the practice. This can be presented through a sketch, diagram, or reference to specific postcodes, helping patients understand if they are within the practice’s catchment area.
CQC Rating: The website must display the practice’s most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating. This allows patients to quickly assess the quality of care they can expect from the practice based on independent evaluations.
Accessibility: The website must adhere to website accessibility regulations to ensure that all patients, including those with disabilities, can easily access and navigate the site. This includes ensuring compatibility with screen readers and providing alternative text for images.
In addition to these mandatory requirements, it is essential to be mindful of data protection laws. If the website uses cookies to track visitor information or gathers personal data about staff members, it must comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This means informing visitors about cookie usage and collecting and processing personal data in a secure and transparent manner. Practices should ensure that they have appropriate privacy policies in place to meet these legal requirements.
By following these guidelines, GP practices can ensure their website is both informative and compliant with legal and regulatory standards.