Most patients DON’T want to see their GPs online, watchdog finds
Most patients DON’T want to see their GPs online and prefer face-to-face appointments, watchdog finds in a blow to the Government’s push for digital services
- Patients are more worried about privacy and not knowing doctor on their screen
- Findings by Which? show that 69% of patients were worried about their privacy
- Health Secretary Matt Hancock insists digitization will free up time for doctors
Most patients are not interested in online GP services and want to stick to face-to-face consultations, research has found.
They are worried about privacy, the security of their data and not knowing the doctor on their screen.
The findings, by consumer watchdog Which?, will be a blow to the Government’s drive to push digital services, which form a central part of long-term plans for the NHS.
Most patients are not interested in online GP services and want to stick to face-to-face consultations, research by Which? has found
Some 96 per cent of patients would not be likely to switch from their current doctor to an online GP service in the next 12 months, the poll of 1,500 people found.
And 52 per cent said they would definitely not change their current arrangements. Some 23 per cent said GP consultations should only ever be available face-to-face.
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Most patients – 69 per cent – said they were worried about privacy, 66 per cent about technology glitches and 62 per cent about explaining their problems over the internet rather than face-to-face.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock wants all GP practices to offer digital appointments via a smartphone or computer webcam by 2021.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock wants all GP practices to offer digital appointments via a smartphone or computer webcam by 2021
He insists the move – part of his plan to modernise technology across the NHS – will free up GP time and be more convenient for patients. And he has enthusiastically championed the Babylon Health app, which can avoid the need for face-to-face consultations.
Last year, Mr Hancock admitted he does not even have his own GP. He instead uses the Babylon app, in which symptoms are typed in.
GP leaders have repeatedly raised concerns about the push for more virtual consultations, stressing that they risk missing serious, less obvious symptoms that doctors pick up when they see patients in person. In its report, Which? points out that enthusiasm for current digital services is lukewarm.
It said: ‘Most GPs already offer online booking, prescription ordering, and access to medical records online or via an app – but only 26 per cent of patients are registered for these services.
‘Our survey showed that although people may want to use digital extras, only 2 per cent would register exclusively with an online service.’
The Department of Health said: ‘As part of our Long Term Plan for the NHS, every patient will have the right to access video GP appointments at their own convenience to reduce waiting times and relieve pressure on staff.
‘Patients will always be able to see their GP face-to-face if they prefer and all consultations – via video, phone call or in person – will be of the highest standards of care.’
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