GP consultations undertaken remotely – both on-line or by telephone – could result in severe hurt and even demise, a current research by a crew together with researchers from the College of Oxford and revealed within the BMJ High quality and Security Journal has discovered. In accordance with the report a distant session has the next diploma of inherent uncertainty. It is because a medical evaluation with out a bodily examination supplies much less data.
Distant GP consultations grew to become commonplace in the course of the pandemic and there have been studies that as many as one third of all GP appointments at the moment are carried out ‘just about’. This apply is one thing that I’m turning into more and more conscious of in my work as a medical negligence solicitor. Certainly, the Oxford College research factors out that considerations have been raised concerning the security of this apply, together with the potential for missed cancers and avoidable deaths.
The research discovered that issues included missed, inaccurate or delayed diagnoses, underestimating the severity or urgency of a affected person’s situation and delayed referrals. It cited quite a few situations the place the affected person died, together with the case of a 16-year-old lady who was identified with glandular fever over the phone by a GP however who died from sepsis shortly thereafter.
Distracted reception employees
The research additionally highlighted the case of a breathless aged lady who spoke with a GP receptionist on the phone and was advised that she can be placed on a callback record. Nonetheless, the receptionist failed to do that, having been distracted by one other affected person within the ready room. The lady died that afternoon. The research famous that a number of incidents had been linked to a busy employees member turning into distracted. This side of the research reinforces the views of many who the controversial Darnley v. Croydon Well being Companies NHS Belief choice was the truth is logical and proper – and {that a} responsibility of care must be imposed on administrative assist employees to offer correct data.
Tougher to get the true image
The significance of face-to-face consultations so as to collect enough data and make medical assessments is clearly evident. With digital consultations it may be tough to completely assess somebody’s total well being and wellbeing in addition to their degree of agitation, basic manner and socio-economic circumstances. In accordance with the Oxford College research some security incidents steered ‘perfunctory and transactional’ phone consultations, with flawed selections made based mostly on incomplete data. Incidents had been discovered to have occurred because of clinicians assuming {that a} analysis made on a distant session was definitive quite than provisional.
As a medical negligence lawyer, I’m conscious about the numerous significance of full assessments and clear communication between physician and affected person in avoiding affected person security incidents and poor affected person outcomes.
The Authorities has confirmed that it desires extra sufferers to be seen face-to-face and earlier this yr a brand new plan was launched to ‘make it simpler for sufferers to see their GP‘ by utilising the most recent advances in telephones and on-line methods. Nonetheless, the Shadow Well being Secretary Wes Streeting was reported by Sky Information on the time as saying that nothing inside the new plan would ‘permit sufferers to decide on a face-to-face appointment’.
How we can assist
The crew at Kingsley Napley are very skilled in bringing claims for medical negligence the place a affected person has been harmed because of issues with GP care, together with the place there have been points with the actions of reception or nursing employees. If you need to talk to us to us for a no obligation dialogue then you’ll be able to contact us here.
FURTHER INFORMATION
When you have any questions, please contact James Bell in our Medical Negligence and Private Damage crew.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
James Bell is the top of our Medical Negligence and Private Damage apply and joined the agency in 2023 from Hodge, Jones & Allen. He has undertaken medical negligence circumstances for over 20 years.
