Babylon: GP appointments via your smartphone

[Cheesus]

At this point, I downloaded the app from Babylon Health, one of the leaders in online doctor consultations, on to my smartphone. The homepage was purple and teal, the writing welcomingly blobby. I tapped on “check a symptom” and after half-a-dozen questions, it suggested that I “book a consultation”. I was offered a choice between a GP, a specialist or a therapist. The appointment could be on the phone or a video call.

I selected a GP and a video call and was booked in to see Dr Patel 34 minutes later. As I waited to speak to him, I learned from his biographical detail that he was practising in Leeds, that he’d visited five of the seven continents and enjoyed cycling and skiing. At exactly 3.30pm, he materialised on my phone and welcomed me to Babylon. Our appointment was much like a regular exchange with a GP. There were some surreal moments: as I tried to show Dr Patel my neck, I was reminded of an Amy Schumer comedy sketch on the precariousness and indignity of sexting.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/02/gp-smartphone-apps-threat-to-nhs

 

[trishrhymes]

Interesting. I'd much prefer this being done by the NHS GP surgery as part of their service.

My GP practice has a telephone consultation service that I find really useful, as I find it pretty impossible to get to the surgery. You just phone the practice an ask to book a telephone consultation. The doctor phones back sometime later that day and they have all your notes available on their computer screen so they can see straight away what recent treatment you've had and drugs you're on etc.

I'm sure this saves them money and time, as quick queries and minor symptoms can be dealt with efficiently rather than having to book everyone in for a 10 minute appointment, and they can filter who needs to be seen by a doctor and how quickly and book you an appointment if needed.

A doctor also phones everyone who asks for a home visit to help them triage who to see first and whether you really need a home visit, rather than the receptionist trying to decide.

I don't know whether other GP practices do this. I guess the next step would be this sort of on-line based service.

 

[Cheesus]

@trishrhymes My GP service has something similar. All of the doctors have telephone time after morning surgery. You can also book a Skype appointmemt and I even have my GP's email address (I suppose I am a special snowflake).

I'm not sure why it can take people up to two weeks to get an appointment. My practice releases a few in advance but most have to be booked on the day. It means you can always see a doctor the same day.