Online GP services can hamper access and threaten patient safety, says investigation

NHS England should evaluate the safety of online consultation tools in general practice, a national investigation has recommended.In a report published on 25 July the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) warned that online consultation services were not always accessible and easy to use by patients and could sometimes make it difficult for practices to collect the information they need to make decisions about care.1For the report, the authors collected evidence from patients and staff across four focus groups and visited 16 general practices across England.Although some patients interviewed said that there were benefits to online tools, such as quicker diagnosis, others said they were less likely to seek a consultation about a medical problem if they had to use an online tool as it made them feel frustrated or embarrassed.The report said, “HSSIB heard that patients are not always able to access and use online tools due to their…
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