Virtual hospital appointments ‘way of life for the future’, Hertfordshire's Health Scrutiny Committee told

Online hospital appointments are set to become a ‘way of life for the future’ according to a local health leader – with one-in-three consultations already being held virtually.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, most ‘routine’ and elective’ hospital activity was paused. And many of those consultations that did go ahead were held ‘virtually’.

Even now – as hospital services return to normal – appointments are being held virtually wherever possible.

And at a meeting of Hertfordshire’s Health Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, September 30, Sharn Elton – managing director of the East and North Herts Clinical Commissioning Group- told councillors “virtual appointments will become a way of life for the future”.

She pointed to the benefits in order to maximise capacity and improve infection control – as well as pointing to positive feedback from patients.

The recovery phase post-Covid is generally focussed on maximising capacity in the system to meet the health needs of the population.

Highlighting the benefits of virtual appointments Ms Elton, pointed to the constraints caused by reductions in staffing, as a result of social distancing guidance and self-isolation rules.

And pointing to the ‘infection control element’, she said: “We don’t want patients going to hospitals and GP practices unnecessarily and exposing people to risk where it isn’t needed.”

Meanwhile she said feedback from those patients who had experienced virtual appointments had been positive.

“. . . we have had lots of good feedback from patients and clinicians about the use of virtual appointments and how that enables then to manage their day to day life differently,” she said.

“Because they are not having to think about driving to hospital , parking cars and taking a day’s holiday, as an example, if they know they have got a time slot, where they are either going to speak to a clinician over the telephone or see then in the way we are talking to each other this morning.”

At the meeting it was reported to councillors that ‘broadly 30 per cent’ of appointments are being provided virtually.

” . . . this is absolutely vital and important that we continue to maximise using virtual systems and ensure that we have got virtual services in place for patients where appropriate,” said Ms Elton.

Ms Elton made the remarks to the committee as part of an update from the Integrated Care System (ICS) with regard to Covid-19.