Swedish telehealth provider LIVI has launched the first UK national guidelines for NHS GPs on how to spot and manage COVID-19 symptoms in patients via video, phone or online consultations. 

The guidance, produced by LIVI’s clinical team of NHS doctors, aims is to help UK doctors identify early signs of COVID-19 and better understand how it develops. 

Founded in Sweden in 2015 under the name KRY, LIVI enables patients to see a free NHS GP by video consultation on their smartphone or tablet device. GPs can provide medical advice, prescriptions, fit notes and referrals to further NHS services.

WHY IT MATTERS 

With the majority of clinicians now having to regularly use video and phone consultations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, LIVI says the guidelines are a vital tool for NHS GPs to manage the pandemic and ensure identification and treatment of the virus is consistently applied across the UK.

THE LARGER CONTEXT 

LIVI launched its doctor-patient video app in the UK in 2018, after signing two partnerships with NHS GP federations. The service currently reaches three million people and is available in Birmingham, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, Surrey and parts of the south-east. 

It was announced last year that NHS England Chief Digital Officer Juliet Bauer will join LIVI in a global product role. 

LIVI has expertise in offering advice and guidance in the context of the outbreak, having led on monitoring a large group of COVID-19 positive patients.

Other GP consultation providers which have partnered with the NHS include Babylon and Push Doctor. 

ON THE RECORD 

Harriet Bradley, medical director at LIVI UK said: "The clinical leadership team at LIVI have developed these guidelines for video, digital and telephone consultations relating to COVID-19, to ensure that those undertaking video and phone consultations for the first time and NHS GPs have clear and up to date directions relating to digital consultations.

“Having clear and consistent guidelines for video, online and telephone consultations which are derived from UK government, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the BMJ and Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) guidance during a time of unprecedented pressure will be invaluable to many colleagues.

“LIVI has significant expertise and understanding of treating COVID-19 patients, not just here in the UK, but across Europe, as we are the largest digital healthcare provider across the continent. With many doctors moving to regularly using video and phone consultations for the first time, we at LIVI want to make sure we share our specialist knowledge to support them and the country during these unprecedented times."