The Dr Will See You Now (Online!)
Online video consultations are a fast easy convenient way to see a General Practitioner (GP) at a time that suits you, but are they safe and can your condition be treated without seeing a doctor in person?
Prior to the outbreak of Covid 19 the NHS stated that by April 2021, all patients will have the right to NHS digital consultations, with all practices offering online consultations by April 2020 and video consultations by April 20211
Covid came along and accelerated the process of NHS GP practices offering ‘remote access’ (telephone, video and email) but also brought with it unprecedented demands on primary care which is currently higher than ever before leading to significant strain upon the service.
CheckUp Health allows patients to book a video consultation with an experienced GP who is used to working in both the NHS and private sector. All our GPs have vast experience in treating patients via video.
But doesn’t the doctor need to see me in person?
A famous 19th century physician, William Osler, is still quoted to medical students today ‘Listen to your patient; they are telling you the diagnosis’
Over 80% of diagnoses are said to be made on history alone, a further 5-10% on examination and the remainder on investigation.2
At CheckUp Health we give longer appointment times in a location and at a time that suits you. This allows us the best possible means to take a full and accurate history. You will probably find you feel more comfortable in the familiar surroundings of your own home allowing you to talk more readily about subjects which can sometimes be embarrassing or upsetting.
You may be surprised at just how much of a physical examination a doctor can do remotely, from looking at rashes and skin lesions, to assessing your breathing pattern and the way in which you move. We are expert in looking for the important clues which help us work out what is going on.
Is it as safe as an in-person assessment?
The Care Quality Commission has been critical of some online providers in several areas of care, including the way in which they prescribe some medications, for not assessing the patients adequately or for not communicating important information with the patient’s NHS GP.
At CheckUp Health our doctors have undergone extensive additional training in areas such as safeguarding, assessing mental capacity and recognising early signs of conditions such as Sepsis to allow them to practice in a safe and effective manner. The quick and easy access to our doctors means that potentially serious conditions are picked up early and If needed patients can be directed or referred to the most appropriate service whether that be local emergency care or an onward referral to a private specialist.
In summary:
- Quick and convenient access allows important information to be picked up early.
- Longer appointment times mean we have plenty of time and don’t miss important clues.
- Our doctors also follow strict guidelines and protocols which means we offer the highest quality and safest care.
Download the CheckUp Health app now and book a video or audio call with a private GP, daytime or evening, 7 days/week.
References
- Using online consultations in primary care toolkit- First Edition. Issed September 2019. Accessed online https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/online-consultations-implementation-toolkit-v1.1-updated.pdf
- David Gray (Editor), Peter Toghill (Editor); Introduction to the Symptoms and Signs of Clinical Medicine: A Hands-on Guide to Developing Core Skills, Hodder Arnold, 2000.
