MORE than 250,000 patients in the York and Pocklington area will be able to have video consultations with GPs on evenings and at weekends later this year.

The new technology is set to be deployed by Nimbuscare Ltd, a group of practices involved in a new extended access service - to be launched next week - which will allow patients to make appointments between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, and at weekends and on bank holidays.

The opportunity to talk to such GPs by video will come before the end of the year, allowing patients to avoid having to drive or get a taxi across town to a surgery. However, face-to-face appointments will still be available, and necessary in some circumstances.

Nimbuscare chair Dr Mike Holmes said the video doctor service - dubbed Q doctor - would allow clinicians to talk to patients safely and efficiently, had the highest governance standards and was already used successfully in many other NHS areas.

He said the new out-of-hours service was the biggest investment in primary care for some years and it was essential new technology was embraced as part of this.

“We’ve therefore joined up with two technology providers to bring these exciting new initiatives to York,” he said.

“Bringing video technology to the NHS will enhance the service we already provide to our patients. It will allow us to see patients digitally, where possible, and ensure clinicians provide safe care.

“We already know our patients want to access virtual consultations and this is happening elsewhere. It’s important, however, that we introduce this carefully and make sure this is right for the people who will use it.

“A survey of York residents earlier this year revealed people were keen to see mobile technology used for consultations with their GP practice.”

He said more than 50 clinicians had already joined up to the new extended access service, with more being recruited, and he stressed there would not be any reduction in the availability of traditional daytime appointments at surgeries.

The extended access service, and later the video consultations, will involve Haxby Group, Priory Medical Group, York Medical Group, East Parade, Old School, Front Street, Unity, My Health, Jorvik Gillygate, Pocklington, Elvington and Dalton Terrace. It will be based at four hub sites: Cornlands Road Medical Centre and Stonebow, Huntington and Pocklington Surgeries.