Ali Parsa is the founder of Babylon, which offers a smartphone GP consultation service to private patients MATT LLOYD for THE TIMESMillions of NHS patients will be offered the chance to consult family doctors around the clock by smartphone as the first “virtual GP” goes live. Video consultations are promised within two hours by doctors who say that they are finally bringing the health service into the digital age. However, the project has raised fears among senior GPs that it will create a two-tier NHS, disrupting personal relationships and siphoning off fit, young patients, leaving traditional practices to deal with the frail, elderly and mentally ill. However, NHS bosses have signed off the scheme, saying that “one size does not fit all” for GP care. Mobasher Butt, a partner in the “GP at Hand” service, said: “We do everything from grocery shopping to our banking online…

Source: The Times November 06, 2017 00:00 UTC