GPs want to keep video consultations post pandemic but do patients?
GPs want to keep video consultations post pandemic but do patients?
Nine in 10 GPs want to continue with remote telephone and video consultations after the pandemic according to British Medical Association BMA survey. GP bureaucracy must not return after pandemic and video consultations can make booking attending and administrating GP appointments more efficient for GP practices.
Many patients do not really want to go for face to face appointment but have had no choice in the past. Many patients will welcome video consultations continuing beyond pandemic. However should it be made the default means of arranging a GP appointment?
Switching more to video consultations also throws up the possibility of vastly reducing other costs of GP appointments that would be more controversial. Many GPs prior to the pandemic were planning to retire in near future exasperating a shortage of GPs to meet demands. Medical expertise is cheaper to source in other countries. In other words it would be cheaper and easier to fill skills gap by using medical experts in other countries to work from their homes overseas and deliver medical advice to UK patients. Quality of medical advice could be managed and quantity of supply could be more quickly solved.
Many GPs are earning in the 100000 plus per year. You could half that and get massive interest from overseas doctors working in their own countries at home where they massively boost their lifestyle remain spending in their local communities whilst drastically cutting the cost of GP services in UK and filling huge skills gap in UK.