GPs urged to go digital to prevent spread of coronavirus
GP practices across the country have been advised to assess patients online or via telephone and video appointments to mitigate the potential spread of coronavirus.
In a letter to GPs last week, NHS England urged Britain’s 7,000 GP surgeries to reduce face-to-face appoints for patients displaying symptoms of Covid-19.
The organisation wants to prevent anyone with the virus that should be self-isolating turning up to surgeries where they put healthcare professional and other patients at risk.
The preemptive move means millions of patients will now be triaged online, via telephone or video and contacted via text messaging services.
“To mitigate any risk that potentially infected patients book appointments online and attend the practice when they should be receiving advice to self-isolate or go through testing, all practices are now being advised to change face-to-face appointments booked online to triage appointments via telephone or video,” Dr Nikita Kanani, a GP and NHS England’s medical director for primary care, wrote.
Digital healthare providers have issued several statements on the importance of technology in the face of Covid-19.
Juliet Bauer, UK managing director of online GP service LIVI, said: “Digital presents an important opportunity – stopping the spread of disease whilst increasing NHS capacity, ensuring the NHS can continue to deliver high quality primary care to patients across the UK.
“With six million – one in five UK employees – likely to be affected during the worst of the outbreak, video consultations give worried patients immediate access to GP advice and support, safe from spreading or catching infection.
“Video consultations enable GPs to continue treating patients even if their surgeries are forced to close, and can be deployed in other areas where the increased demand on GP services means that patients cannot get regular appointments either.”
Graham Kendall, director of the Digital Healthcare Council, added: “In light of the request from NHS England, the Digital Healthcare Council is ready to support all digital health companies providing online NHS consultations to patients across the country to make sure patients are seen by a medical professional as quickly and safely as possible.
“As the UK’s representative body for digital healthcare providers, we are working closely with our members to ensure that they able to react rapidly to all coronavirus updates from Government and NHS England and to support the NHS during this unprecedented time.
“If just five percent of GP consultations went digital, there would be 300,000 fewer face to face visits to a GP a week, each of these could be a potential coronavirus transmission.”
Dr Dan Bunstone, chief medical officer of Push Doctor, said the ongoing situation was “shining a light on how health tech companies must adapt to changing demands”.
“Our priority is to ensure that NHS patients can easily access high-quality clinical care and services that are aligned with the government’s coronavirus action plan.”
NHS England launched an update to NHS 111 last week in order to help people get quick advice about coronavirus, after a surge of enquiries to the health service about the outbreak.
The service provides people with approved advice and frees up clinical call handlers’ time so they are able to prioritise 111 phone callers experiencing symptoms.
Since its launch on 4 March more than one million people have accessed the service, NHSE has revealed.
At its peak, the service received more than 210,000 enquiries in a single day.
Disclaimer: Digital Health News is a news service run by a team of journalists. We are not part of the NHS, nor are we affiliated with the NHS or any other healthcare provider in the UK.
As such, Digital Health News is unable able to offer guidance regarding the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. We advise anyone seeking approved medical advice to contact NHS 111.
7 Comments
I have no spleen and asthma should I be self isolating and for how long
Hi. The same situation I am in risk group, because I’m pregnant everywhere advice for me to self izolate, because of the risk and I’m not feeling good as well I can’t sleep properly at night, feeling exhausted. Contacted my GP got 7 days self certificate, but it’s finishing soon and I still not feeling better. GP receptionist said that they are unable to further give a sick note after the 7 days due to the current situation and I didn’t even get chance to speak with doctor. What should I do and how to provide my employer with sick note?
Hi I need asthma spray Has I ran out , I place a order but not in time ????
Hi. I have been feeling unwell for the last couple of days so I’m off work ( Royal Mail processing) . I have Athma . I’ve called my GP but they are unable to further give a sick note after the 7 days due to the current situation. My 7 days self certification is up on Tues next week. If I’m still unwell what should I do about a note . I’m in contact with my employer during my absence ? Please advice. Many Thanks Candice Mitchell
I’m in the same boat as you , phoned my doctors up and told me to apply for one online, but on the 111nhs digital website it’s not up and running yet so you can’t even get a sick note off there! Not sure myself what to do now
Hi my parents need to self isolate for 14 day as my little girl got a temp how can he get a sick Note
I have low immune system iv got no spleen and asthma 8v been told to isolate my self and my husband also how do we get a sick note
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