Skype GP consultations may ‘fuel more superbugs and put patients at risk’ after finding the safety of the appointments are ‘untested’

PLANS to roll-out Skype GP consultations may put patients at risk and fuel the rise of superbugs, a study warns.

Experts at Imperial College London said the safety of online appointments with family doctors is “untested”.

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And video-medics may be more risk averse and dole out more needless antibiotics.

It comes just days after Public Health England said medics are handing out more than seven million pointless prescriptions annually.

NHS bosses last year pledged £45 million to boost online access to GPs, including Skype and smartphone consultations.

The latest study examined seven private online GP services that offer near-instant appointments.

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Public Health England have previously said medics are handing out more than seven million pointless prescriptions annually[/caption]

Researchers found they often promoted easy access to antibiotics, with some offering them “in minutes”.

But none of them carried warnings about overuse.

Officials claim needless prescribing fuels the rise of drug-resistant superbugs, which kill 5,000 a year in the UK.

The medication only works against bacterial infections, such as meningitis and pneumonia.

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Officials claim that the unnecessary prescriptions are fuelling a rise in superbugs[/caption]

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Imperial College researchers found that some patients were offered antibiotics in ‘minutes’[/caption]

But antibiotics are pointless against coughs, colds and sore throats triggered by viruses.

Imperial College researchers also questioned whether Skype appointments are as safe as face-to-face meetings.

They said the lack of any physical examination or access to previous notes may be risky.

It means drug history or allergies could be missed.

Lead researcher Dr Benedict Hayhoe said: “The uncertainty inherent in video consulting, where examination is impossible, might be expected to result in increased antibiotic prescription, due to clinicians feeling a need to ‘play it safe’.”

“Provision of antibiotics is known to be associated with increased patient satisfaction, and in a competitive online environment, private companies will be particularly reliant on positive patient feedback.”

The study is published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

NHS England last year pledged £45 million to boost online access to GPs, including Skype and smartphone consultations.

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