Virtual GP Appointments To Be Trialled

The government are to trial a new scheme meaning face to face doctor's appointments were replaced with video telephone consultations instead.

People with health worries could soon be able to have a virtual appointment with their GP. The government will trial nine schemes in England allowing people to make video calls to their doctor.

GPs in some parts of North Yorkshire are already using them with patients in care homes. Dr Colin Renwick from Settle is one of them. He doesn't believe it matters that patients are in the room. He said "a lot of what we base our diagnosis on is what the patient is telling us and on their history. And if you're listening to the patient, often, the hands-on, physical examination doesn't have a lot to do with what they've told you".

The scheme's designed to save the NHS time and money. But Dr Maureen Baker from the Royal College of GPs doesn't think it will do that. She believes patients could need a physical examination following the video consultation meaning doctors would duplicate their appointments.

The areas for the trials will be announced later this month.