THOUSANDS of patients in Warrington will be able to speak to a doctor via video call for free from Monday.

Chapelford Medical Centre and Greenbank Surgery in Fairfield have joined forces with Push Doctor to offer video consultations on the NHS for the first time.

It follows calls from GPs to meet growing healthcare demands while offering greater flexibility to patients and their families.

While previously seeing a doctor the same day or outside traditional surgery hours has usually been reserved for emergencies, it is hoped the new service will help to reduce the time patients have to wait to see a GP for any health complaint without compromising on the quality of care received.

Dr Dan Bunstone, chief medical officer of Push Doctor who is also a resident GP at Chapelford surgery, said: “I practice at Chapelford Medical Centre once a week and am incredibly proud to welcome Push Doctor to our surgery.

"There are a large number of families in Warrington who need healthcare to work around their hectic lifestyles and Push Doctor will certainly give them the option to take control of their health.”

The service will go live on Monday, July 8 July, with 13,000 patients given the option to either speak to a digital GP or continue booking with their existing doctor as before.

Residents will be able to speak to a doctor via their computer, mobile phone or tablet.

Warrington Guardian:

Dr Dan Bunstone

Heather Martin, chair of the Chapelford Patient Participation Group, said: “We have been looking, in collaboration with our surgery, for an offering which suits the needs of the population of Warrington. "Our patients want to remain with their family doctor, who they have often known for years, but they also want the flexibility to have healthcare work around their busy lives.

“Push Doctor’s technology will deliver this for our patients.

"It increases the accessibility to healthcare for those who need it most and I am delighted that we are bringing this level of innovation to the Warrington area and the north west.”

Currently more than 2.5 million residents across the country are able to access Push Doctor services, however as yet there are no plans to roll out video consultations to other GP practices in Warrington.

Dr Bunstone added: “There are national aspirations within the NHS to improve access to healthcare through digital innovation, so it is fantastic that the Chapelford Medical Centre and Greenbank Surgery are pioneers in this space.”

Chapelford Medical Centre currently operates from a temporary building in Burtonwood Road but is set to open a new permanent surgery next to Sainsbury's this autumn.