28
Nov 2017
Study finds online GP consultations have ‘limited’ effectiveness
A health service study has found that online GP consultations, which are currently being piloted in 36 GP practices throughout England, may not assist in cutting patient waiting time and reducing GPs’ workload.
The study, funded by The National Institute for Health Research, found that 38 per cent of the online consultations led to a face-to-face consultation and a further 32 per cent led to telephone contact.
Dr Jeremy Horwood of the University of Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care, said the research showed that any plans to transfer to electronic consultations should be “carefully implemented and effectively marketed”.
He went on to say “Online consultations may have value for some patients, such as straightforward medical enquiries, but they cannot replace face-to-face consultations in situations which are more complex.”
The majority of patients consulted during the study said that they found the new system valuable, and most clinicians consulted said it worked best for “simple and routine inquiries” that could be responded to without the need for a telephone or face-to-face follow up.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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