“You have opened up a small door, which has led to something grand”. Patient discussing remote consultation

Digital first (formerly Digital by default) is a Department of Health initiative which aims to reduce unnecessary face-to-face contact between patients and healthcare professionals by incorporating technology into these interactions. By ‘unnecessary’ we mean, for example, attending a hospital or GP appointment to receive a test result that says everything is OK; or a visit to an outpatient clinic or GP surgery for something that could be discussed on the phone or via email or SKYPE. Digital first is not about replacing doctors or nurses with technology. Patients will still be able to get an appointment with a doctor or a healthcare professional if they choose to. Instead, it is about using technology in healthcare where it can deliver the same high standards in a way that is more flexible and convenient for patients, and at a lower cost.

• Reducing unnecessary face-to-face interaction so that appointments can be given to the people who really need or would prefer them.
• Fitting in with people’s busy lives and delivering faster and more convenient services.
• Improving patient choice and satisfaction levels and enhancing quality of care.
• Helping to deliver efficiency gains by reducing face-to-face interaction.
• Empowering patients to take control of their own healthcare needs and promoting self-care.
• Improving collaboration across healthcare, social care and industry.
•  Helping to cut carbon emissions by reducing unnecessary travel to appointments.