WITH some people in Hillingdon waiting longer than two weeks to be seen by a GP, a digital health firm is using doctors to perform remote examinations using equipment operated by the patient.

The examinations would be carried out in a pharmacy, where Medicspot would arrange for a doctor to listen to a patient’s heart and lungs, look into his or her ears and throat and take vital readings, including blood pressure, oxygen levels and body temperature.

All of this would take place without the patient and doctor needing to be in the same room.

Dr Zubair Ahmed, co-founder of Medicspot, said: “We hope our service will offer a convenient alternative and ease some of the pressures the NHS is facing.”

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A national survey of patients who have used the new service suggests 40 per cent of respondents would otherwise have gone to accident and emergency.

Medicspot is already available at Village Pharmacy in Harlington High Street, where patients can book online and pay £39 for a same-day GP consultation.

The company plans to expand the service to more pharmacies across the borough next year.

If patients are uneasy at operating the equipment themselves, a trained pharmacist is available to help.

https://www.medicspot.co.uk/reports/gp-report-2019