The end of the road for in-person GP appointments?

Technology enabling “stay at home clinics” is set to fully transform patient’s GP experience by 2030. 

In-person GP appointments may become a thing of the past, as plans get underway to put stay-at-home technology on the frontline of healthcare. 

The ‘Future of General Practice’ report released by The Future Laboratory x Mjog, charts the future of healthcare services for the next 10 years, and claims that “home testing and tech” will be prioritised in future care. 

The report, commissioned by Mjog by livi and The Future Laboratory, outlines how ‘DIY diagnostics’ and ‘healthy homes’ will enable Brits to take healthcare into their own hands. 

Wearables & tomorrow’s healthcare 

According to research from Censuswide, more than three in five UK patients now feel comfortable using wearable tech (72%). This uptake in wearables will enable people to become more accustomed with how their body works. 

Eventually wearables will create a digital front door and, connected GP service, will create an ‘at home clinic’ that gives health care staff access to robust, real-time data to prevent illnesses and support recovery. 

Solutions must be found

As the NHS cracks under pressure with a 6.6M patient backlog, it’s perhaps little wonder that times have to change. 

Tech in healthcare will not only enable the provision of high-quality care to the public at home, it will also free up time for doctors to focus on those who need care in clinical settings and alleviate some of the pressures on the NHS as a result of ongoing staff shortages. 

Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory, said: “The future general practice will exist beyond the parameters of one building. 

“The home, for example, will become another frontline of health, enabling new behaviours and preventative approaches that ease the burden on staff, empower them with new data, and see tech return the soul to health care.”

“The report suggests that over the next 10 years we can expect to see an increase in the desire for ‘healthy homes”.

This concept of the home acting as the frontline before accessing healthcare services is a new one, and the report predicts that smart devices and sensors built into our everyday living space are a thing of the future.

The AI takeover is already happening

Spurred by the pandemic and shifting consumer attitudes, home testing has become a normal practice. As an example, Everlywell – a company that sells at-home tests for everything from Lyme disease to fertility – has experienced over 100% growth in 2021 compared to 2020.

Johnathon Duffy, Head of Practices at Mjog by Livi, said: “Whilst at-home testing can never replace the GP – nor should it – it’s an invaluable future driver to alleviating pressure points in the physical practice by helping patients better understand their own health and any symptoms they may be experiencing. 

“Not only does this drive better patient outcomes, but it could help to counteract some of the headlines burdening the healthcare system in today’s media landscape, from longer waiting times to patient dissatisfaction. 

“But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple ways GPs can rely on tech that eases the burden on their workflow through technology. 

“Take us at Mjog for example – we have created Practice Websites that’s an instant, easy-to-manage NHS-branded website delivered to practises within just 7 days. 

“Whilst a website may be simple, having a digital front door means patients get more of what they need to understand their own health, while freeing up valuable time in-practice to dedicate to urgent and primary care requirements.”

View the full report

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