Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a dramatic shift towards remote and digital consulting in general practice. Supported by the wider political policy for ‘Digital-First’ primary care, many practices began offering a wider range of consultation modalities, including online, telephone and video options. Since the COVID-19 pandemic the proportion of appointments carried out remotely has slightly decreased, but still makes up a significant proportion of appointments. According to the latest data from NHS Digital, over a million video and online consultations took place in 2023 (the data does not differentiate between them). Video consulting is used more often in out-of-hours settings and for nursing home ward rounds. Remote consulting requires specific consultation skills, some interchangeable with other modes of consulting, and all important for future practice.
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