Despite increasing efficiency, some patients have raised concerns, with Shekhawat admitting there had been “mixed feedback”. He said the software developer would be working to refine the system.
Sandra Dodsworth said she ended up visited the surgery in person after Emma failed to understand her date of birth.
“I gave up, I’ve driven down. I’m not happy,” she said.
“I’d rather speak to a person who can understand me because it’s universal really isn’t it, whenever you speak to one of these things, there’s something they don’t understand.”
Another patient, Alex, said: “I’m in a lot of pain. I just want to speak to a person, get an appointment, but instead I’m just having to scream at a robot.
“I don’t think healthcare is the right place for it.”