The Times - UK (2020-07-31)

6 2GM Friday July 31 2020 | the times

News

Matt Hancock has hailed a new era of

“Zoom medicine” in which patients

consult their doctor by video-link or

phone as the default option rather than

face to face.

The health secretary said that in the

future there must be “a compelling clin-

ical reason” to see a doctor in person.

In a speech to the Royal College of

Physicians yesterday Mr Hancock said

that the health service must keep some

of the operational changes that were

introduced to cope with the pandemic.

There must be a drive for “bureau-

cracy-busting” in the NHS, he said.

Ministers believe that remote con-

sultations will lead to a better service

for those who need face-to-face care by

freeing up doctors’ time.

Mr Hancock said: “The crisis has

shown that patients and clinicians

alike, and not just the young, want to

use technology.

“Look at how many families of all dif-

ferent generations kept their precious

encounters going through parties on

Skype and quizzes on Zoom. And when

it comes to their healthcare, whether

they are digital natives or digital

converts, they don’t want to sit around

in a waiting room if that service can

come to them at home.”

In the four weeks up to April 12, 71 per

cent of routine GP consultations took

place remotely, with 26 per cent face to

C

ross-Channel

migrants took

selfies after

reaching Kent

yesterday on a

day when at least 202 —

a record number —

made it to the UK

(Richard Ford writes).

Twenty vessels were

intercepted in 20

Migrant

boats land

from dawn

until dusk

Making life changes could

halt 40% of dementia cases

Targeting a range of risk factors asso-

ciated with dementia over the course of

lifetime could delay or prevent 40 per

cent of cases, scientists have said.

In a report published in the The Lan-

cet Commission 2020, researchers have

highlighted 12 risk factors for dementia

that they believe can be modified to

reduce the risk of the condition. It

builds on a previous report published in

2017 by the team, where it identified

nine preventable causes that span from

childhood to later life, including social

isolation, physical inactivity and de-

pression.

The latest report, from University

College London, was compiled by 28

dementia experts. It recommends

measures such as keeping a healthy

blood pressure; using hearing aids; re-

ducing exposure to tobacco smoke and

pollution; preventing head injuries;

limiting drinking; stopping smoking;

staying active; and reducing obesity

and diabetes.

About 850,000 people are living with

dementia in the UK, which is predicted

to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

6 Being obese in your twenties, thirties

or forties more than doubles your risk

of developing dementia, whereas

between 50 and 69 the extra risk is

50 per cent for men and zero for

women. A study by Columbia Univer-

sity in New York also found that having

diabetes or high blood pressure as a

teenager made developing dementia in

later life 2.5 times more likely.

Zoom medicine

is new normal,

Hancock insists

face. In the same period in 2019 71 per

cent were face to face and 25 per cent

remote, Mr Hancock said. He added

that 98 per cent of doctors now offer

video consultations compared with

3 per cent before the pandemic.

“From now on, all consultations

should be teleconsultations unless

there is a compelling clinical reason not

to,” he said. “Of course, if there is an

emergency the NHS will be ready and

waiting to see you in person, just as it

always has been.”

He said that there would always be

provision for people who “can’t

log on” to the internet but “we can’t

patronise older people by saying they

don’t do tech”.

Mr Hancock said of the pandemic’s

impact on the NHS: “We’re carefully

restoring our healthcare system and as

we do so must not fall back into old bad

habits. We must take what we have

learnt and build back better.”

The Royal College of GPs said that it

welcomed Mr Hancock’s desire to

remove bureaucracy but said: “We

certainly do not want to see general

practice become a totally remote

service.”

Edel Harris, chief executive of the

charity Mencap, said that the approach

could worsen health inequalities faced

by those with learning disabilities, stat-

ing that they “should be offered face-to-

face consultations automatically”.

Leading article, page 27

Kaya Burgess

incidents that

began shortly

before dawn and

lasted all day.

Two men who

posed for photos

after arriving at St

Margaret’s at Cliffe

near Dover had

swum the last bit

ashore. Others from

the dinghy were seen

lying in the sun on

the beach before police

arrived and gave them

masks.

Another vessel

carrying ten migrants

landed near Walmer

Castle in Kent and nine

more were found in a

churchyard after landing

at Kingsdown Beach

near Deal.

The migrants said they

were from Iran, Syria,

Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq,

Eritrea, Sudan, Chad,

India, Yemen, Palestine

and Mali, according to

the Home Office.

The number of arrivals

was the biggest in a

single day since 180

crossed on July 12.

in

b

b

la

p

a

M

n

sw

a

th

ly

Two men who swam

ashore from their

dinghy recorded the

moment; others

landed at Walmer

Beach and sat

waiting in the sun for

police to arrive

STEVE FINN

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