Service launches to allow quick diagnostic test turnaround – Med-Tech Innovation
The service has been developed and launched by Newfoundland, a specialist in at-home diagnostic tests and will allow users to book an appointment with a registered GP via Doctor Call, a specialist in virtual and at-home GP appointments.
The new service is available now in London and will see consumers able to have a GP consultation within a matter of minutes, all from the comfort of their home. Digital e-prescriptions will also be available for all users.
Newfoundland, the leading provider of at home, self-diagnostic tests in the UK, and Doctorcall, the first company of its kind to offer telemedicine and at-home GP services for individuals and corporate clients, is helping the British public take their health into their own hands – with a focus on speed, efficiency and personal choice.
Newfoundland offers a variety of rapid at-home tests (tests take on average five mins), allowing people to screen for a number of health conditions and illnesses in a matter of minutes, in the comfort of their own home all available nationally from Tesco.
Doctorcall provides professional medical advice from a trusted GP when and how you need it, whether that’s an immediate video call to discuss your test results, or an in-person house call for the next day after work – they’ve got you covered.
The two companies are also working hard to digitally streamline one of the biggest frustrations that patients can encounter – securing prescriptions for their medication in a timely fashion.
Co-founder of Newfoundland, Frederick Manduca, said: “One of our key aims when we started Newfoundland was to provide the public with an opportunity to take their health into their own hands, as well as helping to alleviate pressure on the NHS and simplifying the entire diagnostic process for patients themselves.
“We’re particularly excited to be partnering with Doctorcall to launch their service on our website and app, as they also share a passion for streamlining the consumer health journey and we hope by making this resource available to our customers, it will allow more people to be proactive with their health and potentially save their life or catch a condition before it could develop into an issue.”
NHS doctor and author of Your Health in Your Hands, Dr Emeka Okorocha, commented: “The pandemic has played a huge role in how seriously we take our health. With lateral flow tests becoming a normal part of daily life, it’s no surprise that more of the nation is open to at home testing for a myriad of health concerns.”
Dr Charles Levinson, Doctorcall medical director, added: “Accelerating and streamlining the process from initial test to diagnosis is vital. Pandemic delays have significantly disrupted millions of patient pathways – leading to stress, suffering and worsened outcomes. This ground-breaking partnership will enable patients to take control of their health, getting ahead of potential issues and therefore giving themselves the best chance at a swift recovery.
“Too often in modern healthcare, the patient view is disregarded. Doctorcall, alongside Newfoundland, is empowering our clients to receive the very best care available on a timescale that suits their schedule.”