Getting Started...

Instructions...

1. Choose a domain name  
   1. The Practice chooses a domain name, we would recommend a .co.uk name. We would suggest a memorable name appropriate to the Practice. Hyphens and underscores between words are allowed but better avoided. The whole domain name should be in lower case. When you have selected a name you can check the availability of that name at Nominet http://www.nic.uk/ (enter the name you want to check in the lower right hand box marked WHOIS). Please do not register your name via Nominet this is very expensive. Discuss registration with us first.

    

2. The Practice chooses a design
   1. This is the most difficult and most contentious part of any General Practice website. We would recommend that 1 or 2 persons from the Practice are selected to make this decision. We will send you a list of designs to choose from (Usually about 30).
      These designs are open to limited modification. There are thousands of designs available to select from; and we can send the extended list if you wish.
   2. Unlimited pictures of surgery buildings, doctor/staff photos or suitable logos can be incorporated into the design but not substituted with the background design.
   3. If your Practice wishes to have a bespoke design there will be an additional charge. There are currently over 2000 GP websites in the UK.

    

3. Organisation of data
   1. The Practice collects organisation data and information for the website into digital format.
   2. This involves gathering, collating and checking the information that is planned for the website. The Practice leaflet acts as a core data set for the foundation of the website. Pictures and information can be sent to us in any proprietary digital format.
   3. Please avoid sending paper unless you are unable to scan information in a digital format yourself. Practice logos or particular design motifs can also be incorporated into the design.
   4. Time spent on planning what you want on the website is never wasted.

    

4. Internet-GP creates an outline website
   1. The website development and design takes 2-3 weeks from receiving the Practice information. This time is spent creating and configuring the space on the Internet server, registering your domain name and setting up the structure of your website.
   2. Your data will then be transferred to the website.
   3. A demonstration site not accessible to the public will then be put up for you to view.
   4. Any modifications you require to the site will be made at this time.
   5. Checking for typos, factual errors and testing is part of the development phase.

    

5. Interactive options
   Once the demonstration site has been approved the Practice needs to decide on how it will handle the feedback from the feedback forms and online prescription requests. The online prescriptions option is an unsecured option. The request is sent by email from the Practice website page to an address which will have the form prescriptions@yourpracticewebsitename.co.uk.
   2. This email address is a POP3 account which comes with your GP website. This address can be accessed by any POP3 email client such as Microsoft Outlook. 90% of General Practice websites in the UK currently send online repeat requests by this unsecured format. A disclaimer will appear on the web page explaining the unsecured nature of the transmission.
   3. A secure server with data encryption option can be purchased at £99 per annum additional cost. At the present time there is no need to adopt this solution unless you wish to provide enhanced security but the trend is towards encryption.
       
6. Website becomes “live”

   1. The Practice sets a date for the website to become “live”.

   2. On an agreed date the website is moved to the practice website address. Patients and the world will then be able to access the website.
   3. The site maintenance option, which comes with this service, allows you to make reasonable modifications to the data or text of the site throughout the year without additional charge e.g. if a member of staff changes or times for a clinic change the information can be emailed to internet-gp.com and this change will usually be updated on the website within 24 hours.
   4. Major design changes will incur a reasonable agreed charge.
       
7. Support
   1. Once your Practice website is up and running we are here to help you get the most from it.
   2. Please contact us if you need any help. PLEASE ASK.

    

8. General Overview
   1. A General Practice website is now an accepted part of UK General Practice. It allows patients to have accessibility to the Practice and Practice information in a way previously not available. Practice websites should be more than just a Practice leaflet and when implemented properly should allow interaction between the Practice and their patients.
   2. A General Practice website takes approximately 2 weeks to set up from a technical point of view. In practice the collation of the data and reviewing the design and checking is usually done at a slower pace and, on average, a General Practice website takes approximately 3 months from start (domain name registration) to finish before it is launched live for patients to use. The progress of the website is at the speed dictated by you in the Practice.
   3. You should feel confident that at the end of the process your Practice will have a website which looks the way you want it to be and works the way you want it to work.
   4. Some Practices wish to have a more hands on approach and to train members of the PHCT to edit the website themselves. Internet-GP does offer a training service which usually takes 6 hours (one whole day). This period of time is usually sufficient to take a person who is computer literate with the usual skills of word processing and using Microsoft products to the point where they would be confident in making changes, maintaining and backing up the website. The training cost is £100 per hour plus first class travelling expenses. Training is most suitable for groups of no more than 4 people.