THE use of technology has allowed thousands of NHS appointments to take place.

Video consultations, where the consultant met the patients in their own homes via video link - are now in place across a wide range of North Cumbria Integrated Care specialisms.

More than 7,000 appointments have already taken place virtually in 2021 alone.

Dr Denis Burke, Consultant Physician, said: “Cumbria Health on Call in partnership with North Cumbria Integrated Care and North Cumbria CCG have been providing a video consultation service for patients across a wide range of clinical specialities since February 2019.

"The use of the video consultation service has grown rapidly over the course of the Covid pandemic and has meant clinicians have been able to retain contact visually with their patients."