A GP surgery's new system for booking appointments online has caused upset - amid fears it will exclude elderly and vulnerable patients who do not have access to a computer or smartphone.

Like an increasing number of doctors' surgeries, Stokenchurch Medical Centre has introduced a new 'e-consult' system as the "main way" of getting in touch with them to book appointments and for medicine and prescription queries.

The new system is accessed via the surgery's website by filling out a form, or through the NHS smartphone app - but the medical centre says if patients fail to give full answers on the form, it could be rejected. Anyone who writes they have a pain level of seven or more will automatically be directed to the ambulance service.

The Oxford Road medical centre's announcement of the new online system, which is in place as of October 4, was met with a barrage of criticism on Facebook.

Some feared elderly or vulnerable patients would be restricted from being able to book an appointment if they did not have access to a computer.

Sam Breakspear wrote: "I’m totally shocked and very disappointed with this post, not only a day’s notice, but also my parents do not have a smart phone and are not computer literate. This is blatant prejudice and very sad!"

Marion Salmon said: "If we have no suitable phone and only a land line. Also not computer literate. How do we contact our NHS doctor?"

Gabriella Stiles branded the move "disgusting", adding: "I am so shocked and saddened. What a way to forget about the elderly without computers/internet."

Jack Riley added: "Very short notice for such a major change. My wife and I are in our late 70's but are reasonably computer literate. Many older people of a similar age and older will have difficulties with this new process."

The announcement of the new online service came in the same day that GP surgeries across Buckinghamshire were affected by "major" IT issues that left around 40 practices in the county unable to access patient records.

Sal Price added on their Facebook page: "Major IT issues and you want everyone to use an online booking system?!"

Responding to the criticism, Stokenchurch Medical Centre said the new system meant staff had managed to handle a 242 per cent increase in daily contact with patients.

A day after the system launched, they wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: "Despite a four hour outage yesterday, when our systems went down, (due to a major incident at the BT Colindale site) with the aid of our new e-Consult system, we managed to handle a 242 per cent increase of daily contacts with patients.

"This meant that our phone lines, when they were up, were free and available for our elderly, vulnerable, and those who do not have access to the internet.

"E-Consult helps us discern which cases need to be seen face to face, and we were able to see more patients face to face yesterday.

"We would like to thank those of you who are embracing the new system."

If patients have any difficulties filling out the form, Stokenchurch Medical Centre is urging them to call them on 01494 256073, where a receptionist will be able to guide them through the process.

A number of GP surgeries are starting to introduce ways to contact them online instead of over the phone.

Lane End Surgery is another GP practice that uses e-consult as a way of booking an appointments, while Bourne End and Wooburn Green Medical Centre uses Klinik Online Consultation.

Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which looks after GP surgeries in the county, has been approached for comment.