Covid-19: ‘With immediate effect’ GP appointments to be held by video link

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told the House of Commons on Tuesday that all GP appointments are to be held via video link “with immediate effect.”

The public will be able to access primary medical care through the use of phones and digital means as the British government are now adopting a “digital first” approach.

Hancock told the Commons, “We’re taking steps to improve access by making sure people can access primary care in the best possible way.

“I can be clear to the house today that we will take a digital-first approach to access primary care and outpatient appointments.

“Wherever clinically and practically possible people can access primary care through phones and digital means.

“This is especially important in the current coronavirus outbreak.

“Already there is a rise but we will make this across the country with immediate effect.”

The deputy chief medical advisor, Dr Jenny Harries has defended the governments decision on Monday to delay closing schools, as she said experts are assessing new cases on an hourly basis as cases across the UK are soaring.

Dr Harries told Sky’s Kay Burley, “We will have significant numbers in a way which I think the country is not used to… so large numbers of the population will become infected, but because it’s a naive population, nobody has got antibodies to this virus currently.

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