GPs are to receive a £50 million investment designed to increase the use of digital services in order to support patients.

The Government has announced the creation of the £50 million GP Access Fund which is designed to offer patients the opportunity to have consolations facilitated by digital services such as Skype, email and online booking services.

The GP Access Fund is designed to support 1,147 practices, providing improved GP care to patients with mobility problems or in remote locations by increasing opening hours and allowing for alternate means of GP contact.

The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “Moving nearly a million people onto proactive care plans is one of biggest changes that we need to make in our NHS. People want to know that their parents and relatives will get constant care if they have a long-term condition.”

He added: “offering more services online will also make it far easier for millions of hardworking people and their families to fit seeing a GP around their busy lives.”

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