SOMETIMES, making a GP appointment isn't just a question of how concerned you are about a health worry, but whether you are really worried or ill enough to bother.
There's the waiting time, and then possibly having to take time away from work due to the surgery's opening hours or availability, and the effort of getting there and back again (not that these things should trump the importance of taking care of our health, of course).
But if there was the option to make an appointment, see a doctor very promptly, any day of the week, morning or evening, without even having to move from your current location, would you be tempted?
This is what PushDoctor is offering - but there are a couple of catches. The appointment would take place via an online video link, and you'd have to pay.
PushDoctor.co.uk is a paid-for service that connects people to a network of more than 7,000 GPs, enabling them to book appointments which take place anywhere with a web connection - means some of us might soon be managing our GP check-ups alongside our social media feeds.
It's being billed by some as 'the future'. But how does it work, and is it suitable for everybody? Let's take a look at some of the key points.
:: Does this mean online appointments are going to replace 'real' GP appointments?
No. A similar online model might be adopted by the NHS at some point, to run alongside regular GP services, but this has nothing to do with replacing current services. PushDoctor uses GPs who are GMC-registered and meet with NHS-approved standards. It s privately run, so it's your choice whether you want to use it. However, the team behind PushDoctor believe the service could help reduce the strain on NHS services, as well as offering flexibility, convenience and speedier appointments for many people, as slots are available seven days a week from 6am to 10pm.
:: What exactly do I get for my £25?
A 10-minute consultation (with the option of 10 minutes more for an additional £15). The main thing you get is convenience - so long as you have an internet-connected device with a screen, you could potentially make a booking and be speaking to a GP within minutes. They can issue prescriptions too (for £4.50), and `fit for work’ notes and referral letters (for £12.50 each). PushDoctor GPs update a patient's NHS records, which are picked up by their NHS GP, to progress a referral with an NHS consultant if the patient wishes.
:: What if I need a physical examination?
Of course, there will always be limits to a video-link consultation, and there may be occasions where you'd still need to see a doctor in person.
"Our GPs will, via high quality video, talk through patients' symptoms, observe them in terms of how they appear, their physical presentation, how easily they are moving, what non-verbal messages they are giving off [such as someone appearing upset, distressed or in pain], and look at pictures the patient has showing how physical symptoms - such as a rash, for example - have developed over time, and use this to assess their condition," says Eren Ozagir, CEO of PushDoctor.co.uk.
:: If the conclusion is that it's advisable you get checked in person, does that mean the PushDoctor consultation has been a waste of time and money? For some people, probably, but Ozagir thinks the service will still appeal - particularly to those who are short of time, and who would find it "empowering and reassuring being told by a qualified professional that they do indeed need to, for example, leave work early or take their child out of school in order to get to their regular GP surgery for further tests".
:: For more information, see PushDoctor.co.uk.
