Growth of telemedicine ‘addtional tool’ for GPs, won’t replace traditional visits

But doctor visits by phone or video don’t suit all cases. Dr Crowley says it’s not possible to pick up subtle signs or cues from a patient who may be suffering with their mental health.

Dr Padraig McGarry says that it can also be difficult to interpret video images as he discovered when a patient presented with a rash.

“I couldn’t quite get it, so I asked the patient to come in. As it turned out it was an atypical type of shingles. So the video may not be as useful in that regard.”