PATIENTS are being urged to help reduce pressure on overstretched GP surgeries by booking appointments and ordering their medication online.

Nearly 374,000 patients in the Solent have registered to for the internet booking and repeat prescription service.

Now health chiefs are urging more people to sign up to the service which also allows people to view a summary of their medical records.

The number of GPs in Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight offering the service tripled in the first three months of this year with 92 per cent providing it and almost 150,000 patients can view their medical records.

Beverley Bryant, NHS England director of digital technology, said: "Many patients want the flexibility of booking services online.

"There is more to come as we develop services that will increasingly help patients take more control of their health."

It is hoped that by 2018 everyone will be able to access their full health records online and details of all their GP and hospital visits, plus all prescription, test results and adverse reactions and allergies.

To register for the new service patients must being proof of identification such as a passport to participating surgeries.