Covid 19: a fork in the road for general practice

Abstract

Covid-19 has produced the biggest change in the organisation of UK general practice for 200 years. As in many countries, face-to-face consultations have fallen to about 10% of their previous level and most contacts are now provided remotely using symptom checkers, electronic messaging, and phone or video consultations. Several of these changes may be permanent, with fewer face-to-face consultations in future. Opportunity and danger are two aspects of change: both now apply to general practice.