‘Skype calls for all’ in revolution of GP services
EVERY patient should be able to Skype their GP on a smartphone, the Health Secretary will say today, as he attacks the NHS for blocking progress and vows to end a “postcode lottery” in access to care.
Matt Hancock accused health officials of standing in the way of a healthcare revolution, as he detailed ambitions for an expansion of virtual GP services across the country.
The minister, who became Health Secretary in July, personally uses the GP at Hand app, which is offered by the NHS in some parts of London.
The system allows patients to have video consultations with a doctor, assess symptoms via a chatbot, or to see a GP face-to-face if necessary, at one of five central hubs. The service, run by private firm Babylon, is attempting to expand so it can be offered to patients in other parts of the country.
But NHS England has blocked the company’s proposals to offer services in Birmingham, saying that it is unable to ensure that those who sign up for the service still receive invitations for national screening programmes.
Today Mr Hancock will throw his weight behind the new technology, last night expressing frustration that the health service has been so resistant to change. He told The Daily Telegraph: “GP at Hand is revolutionary. It works brilliantly for so many patients and goes with the grain of how people access modern services.
“I want to see GP at Hand available to all, not based on their postcode. Where a new service challenges the system the right response isn’t to reject the new service but to change the system. The current postcode lottery cannot continue.”
In a speech today at Babylon’s London headquarters Mr Hancock will urge health officials and GPS to do more to embrace new ways of working.
It comes as the company announces plans to invest £75 million in artificial intelligence, and to offer health coaching and monitoring of patients with chronic conditions, like diabetes. Its founder, Dr Ali Parsa, has said robots will soon be able to diagnose patients more accurately and faster than any doctor.
Mr Hancock will urge the NHS to change its rules if they are standing in the way of patient-centred care.
“We need to harness technology in the NHS. If we need to we will change the rules so we can harness new technology in a way that works for patients and practitioners,” he is expected to say.
“Global innovators like Babylon play a vital role in driving change in healthcare and we’re determined to work with them to develop healthcare solutions for our future.”
On Monday, Mr Hancock – who has described his “unsurpassable enthusiasm” for technology – told staff at a Bristol hospital that technology is “mission critical” to the future of the health service.
It followed his warnings that patients are dying, for want of basic systems that
ensure key information is shared between GPS and hospitals. Under the GP at Hand model, NHS patients living in west London or working in London zones 1-3 can switch from their existing practice and register with the service. More than 30,000 patients have signed up so far.
Babylon intended to expand its services to Birmingham – including a physical practice in the city – although the “host” service would remain in London, but the plans were blocked by NHS clinical commissioning groups and NHS England’s London region.
The plans have also met resistance from GPS, who said such services might “cherry pick” healthier and younger patients, leaving the NHS with less funding to care for those with greater needs. Babylon also offers a private service, where consumers can pay £25 for a webcam consultation with a private doctor, or subscribe to the service for £5 a month for unlimited access.