One in three NHS appointments done online in June
A Surrey-based GP says online appointments can provide an easier option for some patients
A third (33.3%) of GP appointments in England in June were carried out either over the phone or online, the highest proportion since the pandemic.
The figure is up from 30.9% a year earlier in June 2024, and 28.3% in June 2023, according to new analysis of NHS England data by the PA news agency.
As many as four in 10 appointments were carried out by phone or online during the pandemic, but the proportion fell once the impact of Covid-19 eased and had dropped to 27.7% in January 2023.
In the past two years the figure has risen slowly but steadily, driven by a sharp increase in consultations taking place online.
These accounted for only 1.5% of all GP appointments in June 2023 but had jumped to 4.9% by June 2024 and 8.0% in June this year.
Nerida Burnie is a GP that's based near Sunbury, she says that there are several times where an online appointment has provided an easier option for patients.
"Some people tell us that they prefer it for example if they've got really bad anxiety or mental health problems, they actually find it really challenging to come out to see people face to face.
Some people just don't like being around other sick people, so they don't really want to come into the waiting room and be exposed to lots of other people who are sick."
Nerida also added that are definitely times where in person interviews are significantly more useful, as well as ways that in person interviews can offer more in general.
"There's definitely more of a risk of certain things being overlooked or missed, you might not be able to pick up cues if they don't understand or don't like the advice being given
There's also some really obvious things, for example if someone's got something to show you on their skin, you can't do that on the telephone."
Nerida also emphasised that she doesn't expect there to be a time where all consultations are done over the phone, as well as adding that if people want to have an in person appointment, they should make their practice aware and practices will do their best to accommodate it.
"If it really is important to you to have a face to face appointment, please just ask, and please make it really clear that you would prefer that, and all practices will do the best they can to accommodate it"