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.”