WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER, 2020

For immediate release.

Survey results reveal support for virtual GP appointments

The results of a public survey show that 80% of respondents would be willing to try video or telephone consultation instead of having a routine GP appointment in person.

More than 530 people responded to a survey that was shared on NHS Tayside’s social media channels. The survey aimed to find out the public’s opinion about changes to access to GP services that had taken place during the pandemic.

Although GP practices across Tayside have remained open during the pandemic, some have developed systems to offer video consultations with patients using video consulting software called Near

Me or have offered telephone appointments.

The survey results will help inform the future delivery of primary care services.

The results show:

• 75% of respondents are aware of video consultations

• 80% of respondents would be willing to try video consultation, telephone consultation or the ability to message their practice instead of having a routine appointment in person

• 73% of respondents would be comfortable to review their asthma/COPD/blood pressure

• remotely using a telephone/video

• 67% of respondents are aware of the other health care professions who are working with some practices such as physiotherapists, mental health and wellbeing workers or social prescribers

• 90% of respondents would feel comfortable attending in person just now for an annual review of a long term condition

David Shaw Interim Associate Medical Director for Primary Care said, “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the survey. Hearing the views of our patients is critical to help us shape the future of how we deliver our services.

“GP services have gone through a period of immense change in a very short period of time as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. GPs are very keen that patients have both their immediate and their longer term health needs met. 

“This means that we need to make it as easy as possible for patients to be able to use the new remote systems of care that reduce the risk of a second wave of coronavirus, while still ensuring that those immediate and longer health concerns are addressed in an effective way.

“Many of these new ways of working provide care that is both more convenient to the patient, who does not need to travel from their home or work and more efficient in delivering the healthcare that the patient needs.

“Many practices had started this sort of change towards remote working for good clinical care reasons well before the pandemic. The pandemic has accelerated this move and has allowed us to access IT at a scale that we would never have managed before.

“The response of patients to this survey shows that this sort of care is appreciated, and accepted by most patients. It is however important to note that it is not the only kind of care that is available. Patients can still see, speak with and receive visits from their GP or other members of the primary care team if that is the safest, most appropriate care that is needed.

“This sort of change is not confined to General Practice. Other services, such as hospital specialist outpatient clinics and physiotherapy services are also now increasingly delivered in a similar model. We aim to learn from surveys like these what works, what is acceptable, and what needs to be improved. 

“For example, we are keen to develop to the point where we can if necessary have three way conversations between patient, GP and specialist. These might arise from a video consultation between a GP and their patient where it seems that specialist input is required from a hospital consultant. The technology now allows that consultant to be brought into the call to give their expert opinion.”

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138