The UK GP websites outage October 2026 began on 28 October 2026, when hundreds of GP practice websites in England and Wales stopped working or lost online services after their technology provider collapsed. Press reports say Silicon Practice, which trades under the company name Schappit Ltd, entered administration and ceased trading, taking down websites, the FootFall online consultation tool and chatbot services used by affected surgeries. NHS England has advised patients at affected practices to contact their surgery by phone or in person. This article sets out what is confirmed, what is not and what patients can do, and it stays focused on service continuity, because none of the reports we reviewed attribute the outage to a cyberattack.
Key takeaways from the UK GP websites outage October 2026
- Hundreds of practices are reported affected, but no authoritative national total has been published; one trade-press headline cited up to 600, which we could not verify.
- The cause reported is the provider’s financial collapse, not a cyberattack.
- Services lost include websites, the FootFall online consultation platform and virtual assistant chatbots.
- Patients are advised to phone or visit their surgery, use the NHS App where available, and call NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency help.
- No timetable for restoring online services or naming replacement suppliers has been given.
What happened in the UK GP websites outage October 2026
Reports say outages began on 28 October after the provider ceased trading on 27 October. Some sites showed a 502 Bad Gateway error, while others were taken down. Affected areas named in coverage include London, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Derby and Swansea. One report said the parent company had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators in October, while another said it had entered administration and ceased trading, so the exact insolvency stage is not clear to us. The company has worked with the NHS since 2005 and claimed to host about 1,000 GP websites, according to one report, but how many were actually live is unknown. NHS information is at england.nhs.uk.
Which services stopped in the UK GP websites outage October 2026
Practices lost their public-facing websites and two patient-access tools: FootFall, an online consultation service that lets patients describe a problem and request help, and chatbot-style virtual assistants. Some practices warned that online forms sent shortly before the outage might not have reached clinical staff. The NHS App and clinical systems such as SystmOnline were reported as unaffected by at least one practice, but the picture varies by surgery, so patients should confirm with their own practice. These details come from press accounts and ICB guidance, not from an NHS England statement we could read in full.
What patients can do during the UK GP websites outage October 2026
Reports advise patients to phone or visit their surgery for appointments, prescriptions and fit notes, and to check by phone that any online request was received. The NHS App may still be available for appointments and repeat prescriptions in many practices. For urgent but non-emergency problems, NHS 111 is the route, and 999 is for life-threatening emergencies. Phone waits may be longer than usual. This article is general information and not medical advice.
What NHS bodies are doing about the UK GP websites outage October 2026
Integrated care boards, the local NHS bodies that commission services, are working with practices and NHS England to find replacement website and online consultation providers. One ICB reported 49 practices in its area using services from the failed company and issued continuity guidance. We found no direct NHS England statement saying that most GP websites remain operational, so we do not repeat that claim. Reports describe the national picture as varying by area.
Market context from Acumen Research and Consulting
Acumen Research and Consulting’s Digital Health Market report values the global digital health market at USD 217 billion in 2022 and projects USD 1,592 billion by 2032, a CAGR of 25.3% from 2023 to 2032. It says North America led at about USD 93.4 billion in 2022, Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region at more than 26%, and services were the largest component, with over USD 143 billion of revenue in 2022. The page was last updated in October 2023. The figures are global and say nothing about this outage. See our Healthcare IT section.
Timeline of the UK GP websites outage October 2026
- October 2026: notice of intention to appoint administrators reported.
- 27 October 2026: provider reported to have ceased trading.
- 28 October 2026: practice websites and online services go down; NHS advice to phone or visit.
- 29 October 2026: NHS bodies still working on replacements, with no restoration date given.
General background: how GP websites and online consultation fit in
Many GP practices use outside suppliers for their websites and for online forms that help triage requests. Patients can usually also contact practices by phone, in person and through the NHS App. When a supplier fails, the clinical records held in the practice’s main system are separate from the website, but access routes and triage tools can be lost.
Our analysis of the UK GP websites outage October 2026
In our assessment, the UK GP websites outage October 2026 is a supplier-failure event with real patient impact, particularly for people who rely on online forms and for practices already stretched on phone capacity. It is not, on the evidence we have seen, a data breach. The key unanswered question is who holds the practice content and patient data held by the provider, and how quickly it can be moved.
What is not disclosed in the UK GP websites outage October 2026
- The total number of practices and patients affected.
- The formal insolvency status and administrators’ plans.
- Where patient data submitted through online forms is held and who controls it.
- A timetable for restoring online services.
Risks and caveats
Reports differ on numbers and on the insolvency stage. This is a developing story and details may change. This article is news reporting and not medical advice.
What to watch next after the UK GP websites outage October 2026
- Appointment of administrators and statements about customer data.
- Replacement providers named by NHS bodies.
- Any regulator comment on data handling.
FAQ
Was the UK GP websites outage October 2026 a cyberattack?
Reports attribute it to the provider’s collapse; none of those we reviewed mention a cyberattack.
Can I still contact my GP?
Yes. Practices remain open; phone and in-person contact work, and the NHS App may be available.
How many practices are affected?
Hundreds, according to reports, but no confirmed national total.
How we reported this: we relied on press reports, NHS information pages and the Acumen Research and Consulting report cited above. Last updated 29 October 2026. This is news reporting and not advice.