Virtual GP appointments up five-fold in a year, reaching record highs, new data reveals

The proportion of GP appointments conducted online or via video has hit a record high despite concerns over patient safety, official figures reveal. The rate of virtual GP appointments increased five-fold in a little over a year, from one in 100 consultations in May 2023 to one in 20 this August, according to NHS England The proportion of GP appointments delivered by video or online has been rising steadily for much of the past year-and-a-half, passing 1 per cent in May 2023, 2 per cent in August and 3 per cent in December. The proportion of GP appointments delivered by video or online has been rising steadily for much of the past year-and-a-half, passing 1 per cent in May 2023, 2 per cent in August and 3 per cent in December ‘They might be easier and preferable for the GPs but they can put some elderly people off getting care or impact on the quality of care they receive. ‘GPs should give patients a choice over the type of consultation they like but we know from our members that this is not always happening.’ Elderly people who feel uncomfortable revealing personal medical issues over the internet may be more likely to suffer, campaigners say Dr Rachel Ward, a GP and member of the Rebuild General Practice campaign group, said: ‘GPs are seeing more patients than ever before — providing 27.6 million total appointments in August alone. 'In many cases, GPs might initially consult with a patient remotely, and then ask them to come into the practice if it’s necessary to see them in person.’ A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘Patients who prefer a face-to-face appointment should have one and we are also committed to shifting care from analogue to digital, which includes offering patients digital appointments when and where they need one.