GP practices in England and Wales have warned patients about disrupted online services and potential website failures following financial difficulties involving a supplier of healthcare technology.
Schappit Ltd, the Leicestershire company behind Silicon Practice, filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, according to a report published by TheBusinessDesk on 18 October 2026. The filing itself does not establish that administrators were subsequently appointed.
Patients warned that online requests may not have been seen
Horizon Healthcare in Derby says the company providing its former website forms has gone into administration and that the forms have closed. In a notice updated on 25 October, it warns: “Requests sent through an old website form may not be seen.”
The practice has provided alternative online routes for appointments, fit notes, prescriptions and administrative requests. Patients who previously submitted a form and have not received a response are advised to contact the practice again.
Three GP practices in Wales warned of website failure
Swansea Bay University Health Board says three practices have been affected by a third-party website provider entering administration. It identifies Mount Surgery in Port Talbot, Castle Surgery in Neath and Victoria Gardens Surgery in Neath.
The health board says those websites may cease operating with little or no notice. Its published practice notices direct patients to alternative phone or email channels if their usual website services are interrupted.
What is known about Schappit and Silicon Practice?
Schappit operates the Silicon Practice healthcare website and patient-access business. TheBusinessDesk reported that the company filed its notice of intention to appoint administrators through law firm Wilkes Partnership. The report cited unaudited accounts showing net liabilities of £2.67 million at the end of June 2025.
Silicon Practice advertises website and online consultation services for GP practices, including digital forms and patient navigation tools. Its UK Government Digital Marketplace listing describes website forms, appointment booking and integrations with clinical systems.
These services are used for different purposes, and the failure of one practice’s forms does not establish that every Silicon Practice website is unavailable. The precise number of practices experiencing disruption has not been independently established.
What remains unclear
- Whether Schappit has formally entered administration following the notice of intention, and who is responsible for ongoing services.
- How many GP practices and patients are affected by outages, disabled forms or interruptions to online requests.
- Whether any patient requests or data have been lost, and which contingency arrangements are available to affected practices.
- What national guidance, if any, NHS England has issued to practices relying on the supplier.
Fish 4 News has sought comment from Silicon Practice and NHS England. This report will be updated if substantive responses or further verified information become available.
Advice for patients
Patients should check any notice issued by their own GP practice and use the alternative contact channels provided there. Where an online request has gone unanswered, contact the surgery to check whether it was received. For urgent medical help when a GP is unavailable, use NHS 111; call 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
