Do we want a virtual health service?

News that Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is to offer patients “virtual appointments” - talking to a doctor from the home or office via a webcam - will, we guess, be warmly welcomed in some quarters, and probably cause others to throw up their hands in horror - probably in about equal measure.

The advantages are obvious it could avoid the need to take time off work to attend the appointment, avoid the journey, avoid hanging round in waiting rooms, and avoid the hospital’s excessive car parking fees.

The risks are probably equally obvious. Firstly still not everyone has internet access.

Although they are promised they can still request a faceto-face service, will they be gradually down-graded as the virtual appointments become more popular?

Secondly, no matter how internet friendly we are, we all occasionally experience bad connections or loss of service. It would be terrible if a poor reception caused the patient to miss some crucial advice or the doctor a crucial symptom from the patient.

Then there are the practicalities - if the video appointment is during working hours, does the patient really want to discuss his or her most intimate health problems in front of colleagues? Clearly it’s an idea that’s going to work for some and not for others. But with the ever increasing pressure on the health services, which is bound to grow still more with the expanding population, it is clear that the NHS must try anything that might speed up the process.

And if it even slightly reduces congestion on Hermitage Lane, the route to Maidstone Hospital, there will be plenty of people who will be pleased.