Patients have been told that half of hospital appointments can be conducted online as an NHS trust sets up a “digital first” system to manage care. Royal Wolverhampton has signed a deal with the technology company Babylon Health to adapt its “virtual GP” programme used by the NHS to work across all its services, including hospitals. An app would share information between GPs and specialists as well as allow patients to consult online and see test results. The trust hopes to sell the technology to the rest of the NHS if it proves successful. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has praised the “revolutionary” company and uses its GP at Hand service as his NHS doctor, but GPs have accused it of cherry-picking fit young people…

Source: The Times January 23, 2020 00:00 UTC