Involve-visual to roll out GP video consultation service, UK

Date: Oct-10-2013Involve Healthcare's Tele-consultation service is set to roll out its online 'GP Video' consultation service.

The announcement by Involve-visual supports the Government's plan for a radical shakeup of family doctor services and comes after David Cameron unveiled a £50m scheme to offer seven-day-a-week access to GP surgeries. In the largest reform of family doctor services in a decade, GP surgeries will be given extra resources to open from 8am to 8pm, and patients will be offered the chance of consultations through a Skype-type service.

Involve have already pioneered a secure online Tele-consultation service with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust which has already proven successful in saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in A&E attendances and GP consultations as well as improved patient access to clinicians 24/7.

Welcoming the news, Mick Roach, head of healthcare at Involve, said " Introducing this technology has not been difficult as many people already use online video media to communicate with family and friends. Involve have worked closely with Airedale NHS Foundation Trust to create a secure clinical and technical platform that conforms with NHS governance policies around the use of such technology. Over the last 2 years we have found that our video consultation product enhances GP's and other clinical staff's ability to communicate with patients. We have also found that patients love it because it's simple to use and gives them access to clinicians at a time when they need it most. We have worked very hard with Airedale NHS staff in ensuring that patient engagement has been central to our product, ensuring that this is not just another NHS scheme that falls flat on its face because they have forgotten the patient in all of this."

The Involve GP service is set to expand into other pilot schemes including specialist paediatric care following a link with Prince Harry's charity WellChild, which provides nursing care in the home for seriously ill children. Alongside this, the results of a successful scheme with Airedale NHS Trust in the provision of telemedicine service to care homes which has saved the NHS £millions, is set to be rolled out across the UK.
Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.