NHS England seeks GP and patient views of online consultations
Published 17 May 2018
NHS England is inviting patients and GPs to submit their view on online consultations.
Opened on 8 May, the survey asks GPs, practice teams and members of the public to offer their input so NHS England can “improve the service and increase the availability and use”.
The national body defines online consultations as a way for patients to contact their doctor via a smartphone, tablet or computer.
NHS England is running two surveys: one for patients and one for GPs and practice teams.
Patients are asked whether they are aware of their GP surgery offering online consultations, whereas doctors are questioned on their opinions so NHS England can understand the support they might require.
NHS England’s website reads: “Insight collected from this survey, along with other forms of engagement, will be analysed by NECS (North of England Commissioning Support) on behalf of NHS England.
“This insight will help determine the most appropriate support and resources needed for both practices and patients to adopt online consultations as an enhancement to currently available online services.”
The survey is closes on 15 June.
In March, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published a review into online consultations which revealed that 43% of the providers inspected by the regulator were found not to be providing ‘safe’ care, in accordance to the relevant regulations.
Link to patients' survey: https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/online-consultations-public-engagement/
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Don't hesitate to share your thoughts in this discussion as well.
What is your opinion of online consultations? Do you think it will bring positive results?And what disadvantages can it have?
Would you be ready to contact your doctor via digital devices?
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Twitter3 comments
Online consultations can be an innovative solution to speed up the process of having a symptom diagnosed.
On the other hand, not everyone would want to use digital technology as they would prefer seeing Doctors in person so that they know that GPs have actually seen the Patient and spoken to them about any allergies and pre existing health problems.
Some symptoms are caused by multiple factors including stress, side effects of medication etc.
If online consultations take this on board then it will help. If it is very narrow in scope then patients will be left frustrated having not had their symptoms diagnosed.
Online consultations can save time and definitely speed up the process of having a symptom diagnosed, but not everyone wants to discuss their health problems online due to confidentiality, amongst other problems.
For repeat prescriptions etc, it's a good service but not everyone is capable of using modern technology. The Doctor usually knows his patient if they have a long standing health problem, but it also depends on the Doctor giving the online consultation, i.e. if one's usual Doctor is not available.
Online consultations.
How many of us can understand the medical 'jargon' these doctors spout at us? Not many, so imagine that 'jargon' in an online consultation. You wouldn't have a clue what you were doing
I think that maybe this is something that will come in sometime in the future? Us 'old 'uns' can't necessarily use or have access to a pc or smart-phone. The visit to the GP maybe the only people they will see from one visit to the next.
Youngsters today pick up technology so easily, the times my grandson has sorted out problems with the pc whilst I have been out, and he's only 12.
In my opinion there is NO SUBSTITUTE for seeing the GP face to face.
Perhaps that's because I am of a 'certain age'?
