Young flocking to GP phone app could harm older patients

An app that lets patients talk to GPS over the phone has proved very popular with younger people, raising fears that the elderly and vulnerable may end up being neglected.

A trial of ‘GP at Hand’ (pictured) began in five west London surgeries in November, giving 3.5 million people the chance to join. Its makers Babylon Health claims patients can have video consultations within two hours, followed by a face-to-face appointment if needed within two days.

But Babylon, which lets patients join the service from outside a surgery’s catchment area, has been accused of “cherry picking” younger people whose conditions are easier to treat.

Recent figures from NHS Digital show that of the 11,147 patients to have signed up from outside the surgeries’ local areas, 10,051 are aged between 20 and 44. The number of patients signed up to the surgeries rose by 224 per cent, but only 0.5 per cent – just 56 patients – were over 60.

The app’s website ( www. gpathand.nhs.uk) lists certain patients that it may not be able to deal with, including older people with conditions linked to frailty.

Leading doctors fear that surgeries will receive less funds if they lose young patients to ‘GP at Hand’. Dr Richard Vautrey, chair of the General Practitioners Committee, said in December that the app “will do nothing to help the growing number of older, vulnerable patients who need well-funded services that can provide the specialist care they need in the community”.

Plans to expand the app outside London have been postponed after a review from the Hammersmith and Fulham Clinical Commissioning Group said it should be formally evaluated to “assess any impact on the quality or safety of care being offered to patients”.

Babylon had hoped to launch the app in nine further clinics, including in Birmingham and Manchester. It will now make it available in only four more clinics, all in London.