Прием у врача общей практики: третий проведен дистанционно в Англии

Family doctors said remote consultations ‘offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value’ (PA) Anthony Devlin

A third of GP appointments in England during June were conducted remotely, marking the highest proportion since the pandemic as digital healthcare continues its steady rise.

The figure of 33.3% represents an increase from 30.9% in June 2024 and 28.3% in June 2023, according to new analysis of NHS England data by the PA news agency. This surge is primarily driven by a sharp increase in online consultations rather than telephone appointments.

Online appointments triple in two years

Online consultations have experienced dramatic growth, jumping from just 1.5% of all GP appointments in June 2023 to 8% this year. Meanwhile, telephone appointments have remained relatively stable at around 25% throughout this period.

The combined figure for remote appointments reached its current post-pandemic high, though it remains below the peak of 40% seen during Covid-19. After dropping to 27.7% in January 2023, the proportion has risen slowly but steadily over the past two years.

Doctors defend remote consultation benefits

Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said remote consultations "offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value". She emphasised that evidence shows remote care is safe in the vast majority of cases.

"Often a GP might initially consult with a patient remotely and then ask them to come into the practice if it's necessary to see them in person," Hawthorne explained. She noted that GPs delivered a record-breaking number of appointments over the past 12 months, with nearly 250 million carried out in person.

Face-to-face appointments still dominate

Despite the rise in remote consultations, 63.3% of GP appointments in June were still conducted face-to-face, down from 65.3% a year earlier. The proportion of remote appointments varies significantly across regions, ranging from 38.2% in London to 28.4% in North East and Yorkshire.

Online appointments encompass various formats including live chat tools, non-video apps and video-based calls. Professor Hawthorne stressed that decisions on appointment formats should remain between clinicians and patients, supporting a "mixed-method approach" to healthcare delivery.

Investment needed for digital infrastructure

The RCGP chairwoman highlighted the need for robust IT systems to ensure remote consultations can be conducted safely and effectively. She welcomed Government proposals to improve GP practice digital infrastructure but called for "significant investment" to make improvements a reality.

"The college has called for additional funding of at least £2 billion to ensure our physical and digital infrastructure is fit for purpose so we can offer patients the appointment that's right for them," Hawthorne added.

Government promises healthcare transformation

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the Government has made "real progress fixing the front door of the NHS" by recruiting more than 2,000 GPs in the past year and delivering an additional seven million GP appointments.

Through the 10 Year Health Plan, the Government is developing Neighbourhood Health Services to provide more personalised care in convenient local areas. Officials emphasised that patients preferring face-to-face appointments should have access to them, whilst transforming the NHS app to make online healthcare management easier.

An NHS England spokesperson confirmed that every GP practice must offer face-to-face appointments where patients want or need them. They noted that GP teams are working to improve access, with record appointment numbers and improved patient satisfaction ratings at practices.

(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.