Primary category	Secondary category	Summary of findings
General perceptions of email		Overcomes accessibility barriers Limitations: email can be lost or ignored, lack of personal interaction, loss of subtle nuances of communication

Using email in practice	Managing workload	Some clinicians responded rapidly to manage workload; others intentionally responded slowly
	Impact on patient journeys	Email may help avoid unnecessary referral of, and travel by, patients
	‘Quick answers’	Communication of timely, simple, but important, messages about patient care at the interface

System issues	Variability	Lack of a consistent approach to responding to clinical email
System issues	Governance	Lack of a consistent approach to storage of patient-specific clinical email communication across the interface

Relational aspects		Some interface relationships formed via email contact, whereas for others email was not felt to be a firm basis to develop relationships Knowing each other may encourage email communication; for others this was not felt necessary

Email skills		Typing skills and age are both factors that may influence willingness to engage with email communication