Seeing a GP on a smartphone sounds wonderful – but it's not

The new GP in Hand app fails to provide equality of access and undermines practice revenues

Last week, with very little warning - even to those of us working in general practice - along came GP at Hand. Private doctor provider Babylon caused shockwaves with its offer to sign up patients from across London to its online GP service as a replacement for their regular NHS practices, with plans to expand to the rest of England. GP at Hand promises that patients will be able to "book an appointment within seconds" via its smartphone app and have a video consultation with a GP typically within under two hours of booking "anytime, anywhere". Those who need it can then see a GP face to face within 48 hours at one of six sites across London.

On the surface, GP at Hand sounds wonderful - the NHS finally embracing technological advances in IT, offering almost immediate access when some are waiting three weeks for a non-urgent GP appointment. But while anyone can join its service, the website says it may not be suitable for "complex mental health problems or complex physical, psychological or social needs". Or if you're pregnant or older and frail, and as long as you don't have dementia or learning difficulties or safeguarding issues. This new service is cherry-picking its target population.