Patients should email GP rather than visit them, says leading official

[Northerner]

Mike Farrar, the head of the NHS Confederation, said that contacting doctors online instead of in person would allow GPs to assess health complaints quickly and refer them onwards only if necessary.

Previously Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, the medical director of the NHS, had encouraged surgeries to use new technology such as Skype to communicate with patients. But pilots in 2011 proved unsuccessful.

Mr Farrar was speaking at the health affairs select committee on Tuesday. But MPs voiced concerns about the idea.

Labour?s Valerie Vaz said: ?The average patient wouldn?t know what to say or what to ask. This idea that you just ring up a doctor and tell them about your symptoms ? I thought medicine was based on observation.?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/h...er-than-visit-them-says-leading-official.html

 

[pav]

Its not gone that far yet at my GP's practice. They have introduced a new system diagnoses by phone, where you ring up the practice they take your details and a doctor rings you back.

Then they say if you need to come in to see them, not managed to see a doc since the introduction. One can still make appointments to see a nurse or other health care person.

 

[Lauras87]

What???? 😱😱😱
And what happens when the older generation doesn't have a computer?