Woodseats Medical Centre

Emma – Virtual Receptionist

Update: 19th March 2026

Thank you to all our patients for your patience while we introduce and refine EMMA, our new telephone digital assistant. We know this is a change, and we truly appreciate your understanding as we continue to improve the system.

Due to the high volume of feedback and the level of demand on the practice, it isn’t always possible for us to respond directly to every individual comment. Please be assured that all feedback is read, collated, and shared with our team, and we are actively using this to make improvements wherever we can.

We know it can sometimes feel confusing knowing the best way to get in touch, so here’s a simple guide to help you reach the right team quickly and easily.

πŸ“ž Calling us
When you call us, EMMA will answer your call. Here’s what EMMA actually does:
β€’ EMMA does not make any clinical decisions
β€’ EMMA simply completes an online Accurx form on your behalf
β€’ This is the same form our reception team would complete
β€’ Your request is triaged by a clinician

β€’ You’ll receive a response from a GP, nurse or receptionist, depending on urgency

EMMA helps reduce long waiting times on the phone, keeps lines free for urgent calls, and ensures your request reaches the right team promptly.

To help us respond as quickly as possible, it is very important that patients keep their contact details up to date, especially mobile numbers and email addresses. This ensures we can reach you without delay once your request has been triaged.

πŸ’» Accurx Online Forms
If you can access the internet, Accurx online forms are always the fastest and most efficient way to:
β€’ Request medical help
β€’ Submit administrative queries
β€’ Ask for fit notes or letters
β€’ Get advice or updates
β€’ Send questions to the practice
πŸ“± The NHS App is the quickest way to manage routine healthcare needs without calling the practice. You can use it to:
βœ” Check test results
βœ” View and cancel appointments
βœ” Order repeat prescriptions
βœ” See hospital letters (where available)

βœ” Receive messages from the practice

Using the NHS App helps keep phone lines available for patients who need urgent assistance.

When using EMMA It helps if you can:
β€’ Speak clearly
β€’ Keep answers short

β€’ Reduce background noise where possible

This helps EMMA complete your form accurately and ensures your request reaches the correct team quickly.

We know any change to how you contact us can take a little time to get used to, and we truly appreciate your patience.

We will continue to refine EMMA, Accurx and our digital systems so that accessing care at Woodseats Medical Centre is as smooth and efficient as possible.

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Important Update: Support for the 8am Rush – Meet Emma

At Woodseats Medical Centre, we are always looking for ways to improve your experience, especially during the busy 8am period when many of you are trying to get through to us.

To help with this, we are introducing Emma, our new virtual receptionist. When you call the practice, you may be greeted and supported by Emma, who will guide you through your request. We will be soft-launching Emma from Monday, 23rd February.

During the soft launch period, some calls may still be answered by our reception team while we continue to embed the system.

Please be reassured:
β€’ Our reception team is not being replaced – they are still very much here and will be reviewing and responding to all requests
β€’ Emma is simply there to help you get through more quickly and reduce waiting times
β€’ Every request will continue to be reviewed by a trained clinician or member of our team

β€’ If you are struggling or require urgent help, you will still receive the support you need

How Emma helps you:
πŸ“ž Answers calls quickly – no long waits on hold
πŸ“ Helps you submit your request using our secure AccuRx system
πŸ‘©β€βš•οΈ Sends your request directly to our clinical team
😊 Frees up our staff to focus on helping you

⏰ Helps to ease the 8am rush

Emma can support you with medical queries, prescription queries, fit notes, test results and administrative requests.

Please note that repeat prescriptions cannot be requested through Emma. These should continue to be requested via the NHS App.

This is part of our ongoing commitment to making access to the practice fairer, easier and less stressful for everyone.

Thank you for your patience and support as we introduce this new service πŸ’š

Date published: 17th February, 2026
Date last updated: 19th March, 2026