Would you Skype your GP?

The people who would most benefit from it though are those least likely to have the facility - i.e. the very elderly. Are we all to get broadband on the NHS?

it would be invaluable for young parents with several children at home, or young mums/parents with babies, busy working people who can't take the day off to go to doctors (daughter commutes into London everyday- a visit to the GP is almost impossible without losing at least half a day's work), etc- most have internet, a table or i-phone.

And quite a few 'elderly' people are here on GN... so?!

I'm not talking about computer-literate older people, obviously, granjura.

Ana, a very valid point. If we could get those that can to use it there may be more resources available, The GP might actually have the time to do a house call!
That'll be a novel throwback!

absolutely, and in that case Skype would not be suitable, clearly. Which does not mean it would not be a useful too to free more time, as we are facing a huge shortage of GPs with the babyboomers all retiring at once, hours being cut drastically and other GPs doing on call, etc.

It need not be compulsory - we already have the option for a phone consultation and can simply say no to it if we want to. Presumably people could say no to a skype consultation if they chose. I can see many situations in which this would be very helpful. For example, with a sick child, even a look at them over skype would tell the doc whether they needed to go straight to hospital or needed to be seen. A floppy child would be visible on skype, and the whole process would be speeded up.

In fact, it is such a brilliant idea- can't believe we have never discussed this at Council meetings here. We are in a rural area facing a huge crisis with GP shortages- several babyboomer GPs have retired recently, and are not being replaced, and the others are all due to retire in next couple of years.

So thank you so much ChristopherLee- I shall discuss this very idea at our next Council meeting with the people in charge of trying to salvage this situation. This will be even more useful due to the rural nature of our area- freeing time daily for surgeries and home visits. Brilliant. Merci. (I live in rural Switzerland).

Luckygirl, even a rash could be seen by GP wth the parent doing the glass test on Skype.

No costs needed as the GPs already have PCs and it could not be enforced for patients who don't.

I think it is a great idea for routine things especially if it could be done on the same day rather than waiting for an appointment. We have lived in several different places and I have never had a problem getting an appointment. If it is urgent I have always been happy to see and doctor but if less urgent I have been happy to wait to see my preferred one.

It is interesting that when chatting with an assistant in the pharmacy I heard how terrible her surgery was and how she could never get an appointment. I transpired it was ours! When we got down to it she was being unreasonable in her expectations. (IMO)

Granjura, thanks but it's not my idea. I just want to see it happen.
Could also be used for parent/teacher meetings and in many other situations.

Nonnie, only real cost I can see because I imagine most GPs (at least where I live) to have broadband is the cost of a 2nd screen. One to chat on and one to record patient information for speed and convenience.

I see no reason if your preferred GP is being over-stretched you couldn't be referred to another surgery. If it was acceptable to you that is.

How could you be sure about privacy? There could be someone in the corner of the room having a good old laugh about you.

Why are you trying to get it implemented. What makes you think it would give you "good karma" when you run in the local elections? (Don't think for one moment that these few Gransnetters are in any way representative of the rest of the population. They are not)

Even so jings, if it saves both us and the surgery some time it has to be a good thing. Who really wants to haul themselves out of bed, feeling they have to look presentable, then wait around in a room with loads of other sick people catching their germs? A sick person could be diagnosed and the prescription delivered - far more sensible.

I know not everyone of even my own (relatively youthful) age uses a computer. I have friends in their 40s who are only just acquainted with email and facebook - but as the years pass, more and more people will Skype and use conferencing facilities for family discussions rather than business meetings.

We have phone consultations already from our GP, so Skype would be a move forward. I have every confidence in my Dr and if she thinks that I need an appointment its not a problem one is arranged the same day. I have never felt that she has fobbed me off, so I think its a great idea.

Can't say I've ever felt the need for anything other than the normal kind of face to face appointment at the surgery or a phone chat so I probably wouldn't use it if it were available.

But you never know...

Why jingle? Because I live in a town where health, education and transport funding are really suffering.

This a freebie that could really do some good. That's a rare opportunity and has to be made the most of. Getting it done with what you've got. Surely you can appreciate that.

Like telephone consultations I think it would be most use for people who were already being treated for diagnosed conditions. Most of the time you don't need to see the doctor in person for a tweak of your medication or a question about a minor symptom or side effect.

Great idea I totally agree in this day and age why not use Skype it's worth working with the trialed bodies and expand it . Appointment waiting times are ridiculously long why should we wait 4 weeks I will agree with the idea

Ooh, another new member in support of this idea! How nice... and highly suspect

How much time or money would it save? I can see it might be easier for the patient, but the doctor would still need to give the patient the same amount of time during the consultation.

Well, if it saves a home visit, than it can save huge amounts of time, especially in rural areas. DH had to visit people a long way from home, and then get back in the car to go in the opposite direction, etc. it would also of course save huge amounts of time for the patient too- again, perhaps even more in rural areas.

Also, if the doctor can do this from home, it would save on having to have reception staff, always 2 minimum for security reasons- and also heating, electricity, etc. If the surgery is open, it means the most of the place being lit, for security reasons, for example.

So doctors have to work from home as well as weekends now then? They'll love that.

Golly jingl- they do, they always have...They also have to run a 'business' The Practice, and staff, admin, buildings, etc, etc, etc. Many also teach and mentor younger GPs, and they also have to do insurance reports (the bane of their life- always done at home at week-ends or nights off) and write reports on students and registrars, prepare lessons, mark very complicated essays, have school and industrial appointments, do funeral and incineration paperwork, etc, etc, etc, etc.

Did you really think they would just do the surgery appointments and go home to put their feet up? Even at end of career DH rarely worked less than 70 hours per week- and much much more when younger (up to .... 140- believe me or not).