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In this, the first in a series of expert panel discussions, five nationally renowned practitioners with an interest in new technology look at how technology is shaping the future of general practice. In Part One of the discussion the panel considers virtual consultations and the impact of digital technologies. Part Two will follow in a few weeks.

Joining Ben Gowland on the panel are (in order of appearance):

Atul Kumar-Beurg – for three days a week Atul works for eConsult WebGP (an online consultation platform providing on-line triage for general practice) and spends two days a week doing clinical work. We spoke to Atul’s colleague Mark Harmon from eConsult in Episode 83 of the General Practice Podcast. https://econsult.net/

Maneesh Juneja – Maneesh is a digital health futurist exploring emerging technologies in healthcare. We spoke to Maneesh in Episode 10 of the General Practice Podcast. www.maneeshjuneja.com

Keith Grimes – a GP, Digital Health consultant and founder of VR Doctors (a Facebook group). As a clinical GP Keith works two days a week at a walk-in centre, one day a week in a visiting service caring for more complex patients and the rest of the time as The VR Doctor looking at immersive technology in healthcare. http://www.drgrimes.co.uk/

Jim Forrer – Jim is an Exmouth GP who leads a programme within his federation (as part of NHS England’s Estates and Technology Fund) looking to introduce more technology into general practice. We spoke to Jim in Episode 74 of the General Practice Podcast. jimforrer@nhs.net

Sandeep Kapur – a GP who works part-time in the NHS and also as Chief Medical Officer for Qured, a private medical organisation, helping to develop their home visiting service in London. We spoke to Sandeep in Episode 96 of the General Practice Podcast. sandeep@qured.com

Show Notes

Are the days of face-to-face consultations over? (1min 54secs)

Atul responds (2min 16secs)

What’s the impact on workload? (3min 41secs)

Maneesh responds (3mins 50secs)

What about the lack of evidence? (4mins 41secs)

Keith responds (5mins 04secs)

Will it just add to workload? (6mins 28secs)

Jim responds (6mins 35secs)

Could patient demand for new interventions reshape general practice if GPs don’t offer them? (7mins 51secs)

Atul responds (8mins 39secs)

Online consultations to manage chronic disease (10mins 43secs)

Keith responds (10mins 56secs)

Sandeep responds (13mins 33secs)

Will virtual appointments adversely impact on the relationship with patients? (14mins 41secs)

Jim responds (14mins 50secs)

Where will a patient go if there is poor access and virtual consultations aren’t offered? (16mins 12secs)

Maneesh responds (16mins 22secs)

Moving on to digital technology – what are the opportunities (18mins 12secs)

Keith responds (18mins 36secs)

Could new technology change the power dynamic between patient and doctor? (20mins 15secs)

Maneesh responds (20mins 26secs)

Shift to wellness (22mins 48secs)

Sandeep suggests the physician will always retain a degree of power (23mins 09secs)

Jim suggests the aim should be to shift the power to the patient (24mins 10secs)

Keith doesn’t a healthcare professional will always be necessary (26mins 04secs)

What kind of technology is now available to GPs? (27mins 37secs)

Sandeep responds with an example (28mins 03secs)

Jim continues with further examples (28mins 51secs)

Keith continues with an example of a portable ECG (30mins 41secs)

What’s likely to be the impact of these technologies? (32mins 49secs)

Keith responds (33mins 14secs)

Atul responds – the GP record (34mins 23secs)

Who owns the records? (37mins 14secs)

Maneesh responds (37 mins 28secs)

Who owns the records? (37mins 14secs)

Maneesh responds (37 mins 28secs)

What might this mean for the role of the GP? (39mins 32secs)

Jim responds (39mins 37secs)

Part Two, which will follow in a few weeks, will include discussion around virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence and the power of digital communities. If you’d like to be alerted when we publish Part Two and indeed to be told about all of our new episodes and our general practice blog, then why not sign up to our weekly newsletter here.