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November 2015 Punter Southall: Other

Punter Southall has introduced a GP surgery app, through Medical Solutions UK Ltd.

The Med24 Service app provides 24/7 telephone access to UK based practicing GPs. The app also offers an e-consultation facility and the option of private prescriptions, with medication delivered directly to home or work, as well as referral to specialists where appropriate.

Users also have access to an extensive medical library of medically validated fact sheets, covering more than 1,100 health conditions, treatments, travel advice and immunisation. A member can store their own medical information and also gets access to a useful symptom checker tool.

Medical Solutions employs more than 50 GPs to provide what Punter Southall says is a robust service that follows proper NHS protocols and GMC best practice.

The service can be accessed from anywhere in the world through the app, which can be installed on any smartphone, laptop or PC without restriction.

Comment: Punter Southall says this app gives employees and their families ‘their very own GP surgery at home’. That’s a good description.

Unlike most GP services, this app links the member to a GP at any time, rather than being linked to restricted time slots specified by the provider.

Getting hold of an NHS GP quickly can be problematical so we expect such services to grow in popularity, especially as smartphone technology increasingly allows GP to get more information than a simple voice based system could offer. For employers too, the app can avoid workers having to take time off, while for many people, their own GP is more likely to be close to their home rather than their place of work, which both discourages trying to get an appointment when it may be necessary and often means more time off if an appointment is necessary.

Provided the price is right, it’s hard to see why employers and employees wouldn’t want such an app and its worldwide application is another reason to go this route.

Plus points: Simple app to provide 24/7 access to a private GP; Accessible through a range of comms technologies; Worldwide access at any time; Can avoid taking time off work; Avoids problems of trying to get a quick NHS GP appointment; Can avoid unnecessary consultations (where just advice or a prescription is needed); The GP can prescribe medications, which can then be delivered to home or work.

Not so plus points: Private prescriptions can be expensive; Not an alternative to seeing a GP in some situations; Not free; Could usefully include other benefits such as a wearable device and health related discounts.

Website: http://www.pshp.co.uk.

Rating (max 10): Innovation: 9. Overall: 9. Platinum

Tags: Other; Punter Southall