Nhs Offers Appointments With A Doctor Via Webcam

[naomi24]

//The NHS is offering appointments with a doctor via computer webcam rather than in person to reduce the time patients must wait to see a GP.//

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/20/the-doctor-will-see-you-now--via-webcam/

Good idea, or not?

[naomi24]

Mikey, //In other words, poor people can begger off...//

You really are a drama queen! youngmafbog hasn’t said that nor even implied it. I think he means that early and late appointments should be given to people who aren't retired/unemployed in order that they don't lose a day's work. Those who don’t work have all day free.

[Gromit]

Mikey,
People with work commitment SHOULD take priority over people with no time commitments. Time lost at work due to a doctors appointment only being available during working hours, adversely affects the individual and costs the country economically. People not working can take their pick of 9-5 week days. They are not being disadvantaged.

[jno]

people on the dole shouldn't get sick at weekends? Great idea: letting them die will save on benefits payments.

[naomi24]

jno, //people on the dole shouldn't get sick at weekends?//

Where did you get that from?

[Old_Geezer]

Presumably from the idea that some sections of society can not go when it will be more convenient for the working folk to go.

All citizens are equal, there ought not be a group with fewer rights to another.

[naomi24]

OG, youngmafbog is, rightly, assuming that most people don’t work weekends – that is why he didn't mention weekend appointments, but simply suggested that those who are not restricted by working hours take appointments at any time during the eight hours between 9 and 5 on any weekday, leaving a single hour morning and evening free for the workers to make their appointments. Sounds fair enough to me.

[wolf63]

I have had a few 'phone appointments' with my GP in recently - I was given a time that the doctor would call and he is usually either on time or early.

It can be a great idea for ongoing medical issues. I still have to go to the surgery regularly for blood tests but that is unavoidable.

[ummmm]

Ours do telephone appointments as well.

[Old_Geezer]

It may be something you'd like to ask of others as a courtesy, but we all have plans and it ought not be compulsory. It makes for different classes of citizens and I'd not like to be considered an inferior citizen unallowed to do what others are allowed.

To be honest; it is not the fact that a different method of access is available to some, it is the near certainly, created by a lifetime of experience, that offering another way of doing something inevitably means that the existing, more convenient way of doing things gets pushed aside as an inconvenience. attention being prioritised to those not bothering the doc in person but simply contacting them over the Net. Before you know it the new inferior way turns out to the be only way one gets any attention at all, and one looks back and wonders why the public were happy about the change.

[naomi24]

// It makes for different classes of citizens and I'd not like to be considered an inferior citizen unallowed to do what others are allowed. //

Oh gawd!

[Gromit]

Double gawd.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm just glad I brought the issue to your attention.

[whiskeryron]

Another Tory scam to attempt to interfere with the NHS. They will not be satisfied until they have dismantled it altogether & have an American style health system where everyone pays health insurance, & if you cannot afford it hard luck.

[Zacs-Master]

At least that would discourage economic migrants and health tourists.

[naomi24]

OG, that second class citizen mentality is pathetic - truly pathetic.

[Baldric]

People seem to be thinking they would be talking to their own Doctor/Surgery, that's not how I've read it,

///Three practices in Essex and Greater Manchester reportedly already provide the online video consultations - carried out by private doctors but paid for by the NHS, the doctors would not have access to the patient's medical notes and could miss symptoms that they would spot in person.///

So it could free up your GP's time a little

[Old_Geezer]

It is, and the authorities should have no truck with implementing anything that achieves it.

[Sqad]

\\\\\They will not be satisfied until they have dismantled it altogether & have an American style health system\\\

Ron how would that work?

If it was in the Tory Manifesto, the Tories would be "dead in the water" it would be electoral suicide.

[Zacs-Master]

'The authorities' are money driven. Anything that saves the NHS money will be implemented. If it doesn't, it won't.

[Old_Geezer]

If such is the aim it would be by stealth. No one would be daft enough to put such a 'hidden' agenda into the manifesto.