Skype could save on GP visits

Skype is a highly popular internet-based voice and video communications programme and now it has been suggested that it could be used for patient- GP consultations.

The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland has recently advised doctors that Skype could be used to communicate with disabled patients or those in remote areas without the patients having to leave home. Not only will this benefit the patients but it will also reduce the number of missed appointments that GPs often contend with.

According to Dr Barry Parker, a Medical Adviser with the MDDUS, the concept of Skype consultations may have advantages in terms of convenience for both doctors and patients and may appeal to some patients. They may be better than telephone consultations as the doctor can actually see the patient and can therefore gain a better impression of the patient’s condition.

Dr Parker warned, however, that under some circumstances a video consultation would not be sufficient. Skin complaints, for example, were a case in point where face-to-face consultation and physical examination would be far superior to Skype notwithstanding the quality of the video picture.

There were also concerns with legal aspects. Dr Parker noted that Skype consultations would probably be dealt with in similar fashion to telephone consultations. Doctors would need to be aware of the limitations of video consultations and be prepared to arrange face-to-face consultations when necessary. Similarly, patients and doctors would need to be alert to confidentiality.

Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt believes that ideas such as Skype could have a dramatic impact on the NHS, which is why better use of technology was a focus of the NHS mandate published on 13th November.

Hunt is Backing the Move to Skype Consultations