Telehealth has a place in modern medicine but it
will never replace the benefits of a face-to-face
consultation and continuity of care, the General Practice
Owners Association says.
“All the research
shows that presenting and being treated by a family doctor
results in the best outcomes for the health system and
patients, especially those with multiple conditions,” says
GenPro Chair Dr Angus Chambers.
Dr Chambers says
the government is very good at trumpeting
the benefits of its new telehealth service, but is
papering over the problems in primary healthcare.
“It’s no wonder we’re seeing these
numbers when the government has subsidised this service at a
far higher rate than it funds general
practice.
“Telehealth has done nothing to
reduce demand for free treatment, which causes over crowding
and long wait times in emergency
departments.
“And it is worsening the shortage
of GPs in clinics. An example being one of the telehealth
services growing from five doctors to 75 in the space of two
years – so that’s 70 fewer GPs examining
patients.”
Dr Chambers says that about one in
five people who have a screen consultation are later
required to visit a GP.
“While
telehealth a has a role to play in the context of
constraints for acute care, it is not helping the GP
shortage, it is not reducing waiting times at emergency
deparments, and it is not a sensible alternative for
patients with multiple morbidities requiring continuity of
care.
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“GenPro would prefer that
the lavish funding provided to the telehealth service is
directed towards supporting general practices to employ more
GPs and reduce wait times.
“Evidence from the
UK shows that telehealth does nothing to reduce emergency
department attendance rates, time to cancer diagnosis, or to
see a specialist. Telehealth might be convenient, but it is
not best for many patients.”
GenPro members
are owners and providers of general practices and urgent
care centres throughout Aotearoa New
Zealand.
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