Doctor says criticism of 'virtual' appointments is "politically motivated garbage."

 A letter which was circulated by NHS England calling on all GP practices to ensure they are offering face-to-face appointments, has been strongly condemned by GP leaders. They have warned that GP practices are not contractually required to offer face-t0-face appointments to patients unless there is a clinical need. The GP's say that the NHS letter risks fueling negative  media coverage of access to general practice. The NHS letter also says that practice receptions should be open to patients to ensure that patients who do not have easy access to phones or other smart devices are not disadvantaged in their ability to access care.

While some NHS patients are struggling to get face-to-face appointments with their GP's, it seems it might be less difficult if you're prepared to pay and go private. On newspaper reported that a mother from Suffolk had paid £95 for her son to see a doctor because he'd been unable to get a face-to-face appointment with his own GP. However, when he arrived for the consultation, he discovered much to his surprise, that the private consultation was with his own GP. Much embarrassed, the GP referred him to hospital and refunded the £95.

As we recently reported, Alison Mutch, the Senior Coroner for Greater Manchester, has warned that the inability of some patients to see a GP, was contributing to unnecessary deaths. Yet, Nick Grundy, a doctor from Middlesex, recently told 'GP Online that demands for face-to-face appointments were "politically motivated garbage."