Silicon Practice owner Schappit Ltd has ceased trading following its entry into administration, as NHS organisations publish lists of GP practices affected by website and online consultation disruption.
The company supplied practice websites, the FootFall online consultation service and chatbot facilities. NHS England says most GP websites remain operational, but some patients are being directed to telephone, the NHS App or temporary alternative online systems.
Administrator appointed on 16 October
A formal notice in The London Gazette confirms that Richard Paul Rendle of Rendle & Co was appointed administrator of Schappit Ltd on 16 October 2026. The appointment notice was published on 27 October.
According to a statement from the administrators reported by Bedford Today, Schappit stopped trading at 5.30pm on Tuesday 27 October after further funding was not secured. The report says Rendle had contacted NHS England before his appointment to explain the company’s circumstances.
This confirms a significant development since Fish 4 News first reported the disruption on 27 October, when the publicly available business report described a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
NHS publishes affected-practice lists
Central East Integrated Care Board identifies 49 practices in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes affected by website or online consultation service issues. NHS Essex lists 25 practices in north-east Essex. Both advise patients to check the individual practice’s alternative contact arrangements.
Separately, NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire has listed 19 affected practices across its notice covering BSW and Dorset. Among them is The Castle Practice in Ludgershall, Wiltshire. Its notice reassures patients that existing appointments and clinical records are not affected.
These are lists of affected practices, not a confirmed count of websites that are completely offline. Some surgeries have lost online forms or consultation access while retaining other services.
Online consultations and websites affected
West and North London Integrated Care Board says Silicon Practice’s FootFall online consultations, practice website service and chatbot service are no longer accessible. It advises practices that used FootFall to explain alternative clinical contact arrangements to patients.
ITV News reported on 28 October that surgeries in several regions had warned patients their websites were unavailable. NHS England told ITV that most GP practice websites continued to run normally but some Silicon Practice customers were affected, advising patients who need help to contact their GP by phone or in person.
The exact number of completely inaccessible websites remains uncertain. The supplier previously promoted its services as supporting around 1,000 practice websites, but that figure must not be treated as the number currently offline.
What patients should do
GP services and booked appointments continue at affected practices, according to the published NHS notices. Patients should use their practice’s current guidance rather than assume every online service is unavailable.
- Check your practice’s latest notices, text messages or social media for working contact details and alternative consultation links.
- Use the NHS App where available for repeat prescriptions, appointments and records.
- If you submitted an online form recently, follow your local practice or NHS board’s advice. Guidance varies: NHS Essex says recent requests reached surgeries, while some individual practices have told patients to check unanswered requests.
- For urgent help when the practice is closed, use NHS 111 online or call 111. Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency.
Questions still to be answered
It is not yet clear how many surgery websites will require replacement, how long affected systems will remain unavailable or how quickly alternative suppliers can restore services. Local NHS bodies say they are working with practices to establish alternative routes for patients.
Fish 4 News has previously sought comment from Silicon Practice and NHS England. Any material response received will be reported separately.
Sources
- The London Gazette: Schappit administrator appointment
- Bedford Today: administrator statement and GP disruption
- Central East ICB: affected practices
- NHS Essex: practice list and guidance
- BSW NHS: practice list and patient advice
- West and North London ICB: Silicon Practice disruption
- ITV News: NHS England response
