A DOCTOR needs the patient in front of them, but I fear this (remote calls or by phone) may be the new normal we keep hearing about.

There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. How can a doctor tell by talking on a phone how you are feeling and how you react to them with your body language.

It must take more time to set up the telephone call, send a link so you can send a picture if required, and then for the doctor to look at a two dimensional picture and make a guess at what it might be, and then maybe refer you to a consultant, when a personal visit where they can examine the patient in person would probably lead to a quicker diagnosis and hence save time!

Terry B, via sthelenssstar.co.uk