How a rural practice redesigned access and cut carbon with digital tools

Kineton and Tysoe Surgery, a rural dispensing practice in South Warwickshire, has embedded sustainability at the heart of its operations – cutting waste, reducing unnecessary travel and streamlining care for patients across a dispersed population.

Their efforts saw them crowned winners of the Sustainability in Practice category at the General Practice Awards in December.

The team has implemented an integrated system of digital tools designed to reduce carbon emissions and deliver more sustainable healthcare and.

These include a 24/7 triage platform, digital recall systems, automated results processing and a self-service prescription collection point. These have been carefully coordinated to meet the needs of a varied patient base, including shift workers, commuters and those living in remote areas.

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The practice now receives more than 600 online contacts each month via its RapidHealth AI triage system, with over a quarter submitted outside working hours.

The system automatically routes requests to the appropriate clinician – for example, musculoskeletal issues to first contact practitioners, gynaecology to advanced nurse practitioners, and mental health to GPs. This reduces the number of unnecessary face-to-face appointments and eases pressure on the morning phone queue.

Long-term condition management has also moved online. Using the Medilinks digital recall system, patients are prompted to complete structured reviews during their birthday month, submitting home readings and questionnaires remotely.

Over 40% of reviews, including asthma, pill checks and HRT, are now handled this way, significantly reducing the need for printed paperwork, home visits and in-person consultations.

Routine blood test results are processed through GP Automate, which uses logic-based rules to file normal results without GP input. The system automatically notifies patients via text message and signposts to the NHS App.

This approach has led to a 75% reduction in printed results letters, a halving of incoming results-related calls and a doubling of NHS App registrations.

The practice has also redefined its approach to extended access. Unlike many services that focus on emergency appointments, weekend and evening sessions are used for planned reviews and long-term condition management.

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In addition, remote pharmacists carry out structured reviews, while pre-booked face-to-face appointments ensure patients who cannot attend during the week still receive timely care.

A 24/7 prescription collection machine has further improved sustainability by allowing patients to collect medication at their convenience. Many now combine collections with school runs, shift work or shopping trips, leading to a 30% drop in missed collections and fewer repeat journeys.

The impact of these changes has been significant. Travel-related contacts have fallen, printing volume has declined and the administrative burden on staff has eased.

Patient feedback has highlighted improved access and satisfaction, with many noting the ease and flexibility of the new systems. In addition, staff have reported reduced workload and more time available for direct clinical care.

As well as delivering local benefits, the practice is supporting other rural surgeries to adopt similar tools and has developed a replicable blueprint for digital transformation that supports sustainability, access and clinical quality.

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Future plans include piloting AI tools for document management, expanding automated dispensing and integrating new scribe technology to further reduce resource use.

Each step is underpinned by a commitment to embedding sustainability through greener operations, lower patient burden and a supported workforce.