THE DOCTOR WILL ZOOM YOU NOW

Virtual healthcare looks set to stay, but there are some issues to be aware of

Our memories of being locked down are fading, and the UK is (hopefully) in recovery mode. However, it’s safe to say that COVID-19 changed all our lives, and some things – healthcare included – will never be the same again.

The good news is that thanks to a focus on virtual appointments, GP surgeries were able to squeeze in one million more appointments a week just one year after the start of the pandemic*. But is it a case of prioritising quantity over quality? And if digital doctors and online pharmacies are part of the ‘new normal, it’s high time we got savvy about how to use them.

A virtual surgery

At the peak of the pandemic, only 30% of all GP appointments were face-to-face, and the rest were conducted remotely**. Surgeries introduced a ‘total triage’ method to screen patients and direct them to the most appropriate service for their problem – be that phone, video or face-to-face appointment. This system remains in place and proved popular. Research from the Health Foundation found that around 60% of NHS users increased their use of technology to access care during the first phase of the pandemic and an overwhelming majority of this 60% (83%) viewed their experience positively. ***

‘A virtual doctor’s appointment has so many benefits as we save time on travel, take less time out of busy workdays – and it’s easier to find an appointment that fits into your schedule,’ says GP Dr Ashish Srivastava. Going online also avoids the need to sit around in waiting rooms, which are often a hotbed of germs.

The online pharmacy