Do UK Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) have sufficient guidelines and training to provide telehealth patient consultations?

Abstract

Key messages Nationally accepted guidelines for AHP telehealth consultations are needed, with collaboration required between the NHS and AHP professional bodies. Future telehealth guidelines need to include advice and clear recommendations on patient eligibility criteria, consultation length, training requirements and safety considerations to limit unintended risks to patients, avoid AHPs’ liability exposure and widening health inequalities of vulnerable groups. Telehealth implementation processes should be given equal consideration as technological aspects within guidelines and staff training to ensure a successful digital transformation of the NHS AHP services. Digital inclusion approaches are needed to ensure that vulnerable population groups at risk of exclusion can benefit from digital technologies as digitally enabled care goes mainstream across the NHS. Training should include not only technical but also practical skills in telehealth consultations. AHPs must be trained to respond to emergencies to reduce the risk of unnecessary harm to patients and to improve their confidence and engagement in the usage of telehealth. Telehealth education should be incorporated into AHP curricula to equip the future AHP workforce with the knowledge and skills necessary to deliver telehealth.

Keywords

• Telehealth
• Allied Health Professionals
• Guidelines