The Centre for Health Services Studies (CHSS) will be running its annual open lecture presented by Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Health Services at the University of Oxford, on the subject of ‘Remote Video Consultations: Expectation, hype, hubris and evidence’.
Politicians are currently fond of the futuristic image of patients consulting their doctors and nurses using remote technology. Remote video consulting (using Skype, Facetime or comparable software) is commonplace in parts of the world where some citizens live in truly remote areas (e.g. Australia). Ironically, remote consulting may also have potential in cities clogged by traffic (as, for example, it becomes less and less feasible for clinicians to drive to ‘house calls’). In this country, policy discourse envisages a proximate future in which remote technology produces more efficient services, less stressed staff and more satisfied patients. Some clinicians are enthusiastic; others not so sure. Likewise with patients. As always, the devil is likely to be in the detail. This lecture will review the evidence base on what is known, what is not known and what is inherently uncertain about remote video consulting. In particular, Professor Greenhalgh will present preliminary data from the NIHR-funded VOCAL (Virtual Online Consultations Advantages and Limitations) study of remote video consulting in the NHS (http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hsdr/135926).
The lecture is free and open to all and will run from 18.00 to 19.30 (preceded by a reception from 17.30) on Thursday 6th October in Darwin Conference Suite.