New NHS figures show that nearly half of GP appointments in May were carried out over the telephone, compared with just 14% in February. Health secretary Matt Hancock has welcomed the shift, declaring that from now on all consultations should be tele-consultations unless there is a compelling clinical reason not to.
However, experts warn that a 'remote first' strategy must be implemented with care. Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said that while telephone appointments can be effective for simple conditions, face-to-face consultations remain important for complex health needs, physical examinations, and vaccinations. He stressed that visual clues and the rapport built over time are difficult to replicate remotely.
Edel Harris, chief executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, expressed concern that the changes could exacerbate health inequalities. She called for people with learning disabilities to be offered face-to-face consultations automatically, starting with annual health checks.
Despite these concerns, a BMA survey found that 88% of GP respondents want greater use of remote consultations to continue. Patient Emily Steer, 32, said she had a more thorough and positive experience with telephone consultations for Covid-19 symptoms than with previous in-person appointments.
Professor Marshall noted that remote appointments are convenient and environmentally friendly, but added that demand for face-to-face appointments is already rising. He suggested a future 50-50 split between remote and in-person visits.
