Half a million patients given access to GP video consultations via Q Doctor

Online GP provider Q Doctor has announced it is now providing more than half a million patients nationwide with access to video consultations.

The digital-service is now supporting 60 NHS GP practices across England, including Staffordshire, Birmingham, York and Hull.

It supports practices with the technical capabilities to offer at-home video consultations which can give patients to access the professional healthcare advice and support they need, more quickly and efficiently.

This means healthcare professionals can still build personal rapport with patients during consultations and can also reduce some of the anxieties associated with seeing a doctor and help people feel more at ease at a time that can often be difficult or stressful.

Dr Chris Whittle, Q doctor’s Founder and CEO, said: “Our a rigorous approach to safety, fitting in with existing practices systems and processes, and keeping access free to patients on existing GP practice lists, are the things that have set us apart and mean that we able to have a really positive impact on the care patients received. It’s fantastic to see such enthusiasm and collaboration with GPs right across the country.”

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its report into the service in October 2018, saying Q Doctor was Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.

Whittle added: “We’re really pleased to receive CQC recognition, demonstrating our commitment to first-class governance and regulation that is clearly evident from the confidence NHS organisations have in Q doctor to use our innovative healthtech platform in the delivery of high quality NHS healthcare.”

The online GP consultation market is rapidly expanding and has meant the CQC has been granted more powers to rate such services.

Previously, the CQC rated NHS and independent hospitals, general practices and adult social care services as being ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’ but this has not been extended to online services as well.