A ‘digital revolution’ is helping Wokingham medical services to cope with increasing demand from patients, according to Berkshire health chiefs.

Technology is paving the way for patients to be able to book appointments, order prescriptions and access their health records without having to visit their local surgery.

And curious residents can now even ask their practice ‘any type of question (including clinical questions)’ via an “enhanced” online service.

These provisions have already been rolled out by Berkshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) but Chief Officer Cathy Winfield told Wokingham borough councillors that it is their “next mission” to have “comprehensive cover” of these digital features on their website.

Councillors heard about the ‘digital revolution’ at a meeting of the council’s health watchdog committee and Cllr Abdul Loyes claimed that people who do not have access to the internet could be missing out on the service.

Debbie Milligan, the GP lead for the Wokingham locality of Berkshire West CCG, said: “One size does not fit all. Just because it is available does not mean it is going to be used.”

However, she continued: “The people that use these services are not the people you expect.

“Some of it is already being used. It is not all young adults, it is older people as well.

“Previously we had people coming in and telling us they were unwell, but now we can actively start planning with them.

“But we are not going to get rid of face to face or telephone – they will still exist.”

Cllr Rachelle Shepherd-DuBey, however, confronted the health experts on why the authority was still sending letters rather than emails.

Borough councillors heard about the ways Berkshire West CCG was digitally tackling growing demand at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council’s health overview and scrutiny committee on Monday, 21 January.