Digital technologies are seen as a key part of a modernised NHS that offers quick, convenient, and acceptable care that makes better use of clinician time.1 The NHS Long Term Plan2 asserts that digitally enabled primary care will go ‘mainstream’ across the NHS and corresponding changes have been made to the new GP contract with all practices expected to offer online consultation by April 2020 at the latest. But will digitally enabled primary care offer the solutions to the challenges facing general practice?
WHAT IS DIGITALLY ENABLED PRIMARY CARE?
Digitally enabled primary care involves fully integrating digital technologies into routine primary care practice. ‘Digital-first primary care’ is a key part of this approach and this is the use of digital routes of access into primary care as default. It incorporates online services (booking, repeat prescriptions, and access to records), online access for symptom checking and remote consultation with a clinician, which may be via webchat, webforms, email or video.2 These can be accessed by patients via a computer, smartphone, or tablet that has access to the internet.
These approaches may be accompanied by remote monitoring. Digitally enabled remote monitoring (or telemonitoring) involves patients using devices to measure biometric information themselves, relaying this back to the clinician.3 Unlike other digital approaches, access to the internet is not essential, as text messaging (SMS) can be used to relay the information. Remote monitoring …