DWF – Telemedicine – location, location, location, when geography does matter!

Author - Vicki Swanton

The boost that telemedicine has received due to the pandemic has been interesting to observe, as has the evidence that it produces a generally positive experience for practitioners and service users. Who wouldn't find it helpful to have a 5 minute telephone call with a GP without having to leave work early, travel to a busy surgery, queue to book in, then wait to be seen by a harassed practitioner trying to catch up with their list?! In reality, like many 'new normals' there will be no putting the genie back in the bottle – but it doesn't take a healthcare lawyer to highlight that there are risks in all consultations and that these need to be carefully considered and managed on both sides of the virtual consultation table.