Traditionally, a doctor after hours meant a special clinic that operated outside of the regular times that allowed people who wanted to see a GP at night to get the attention they needed. This obviously had a lot of utility for people who could not visit a GP during regular working times since they were busy with work themselves or had other commitments that prevented them from going the normal route that everyone else did.

However, thanks to new technological advances and chances in health legislation, the old paradigm of what constitutes this kind of service has changed. Nowadays, a doctor after hours can be accessed via a telehealth app/services that enables people to communicate with medical professionals via VOIP (like a skype call).

Using video call technology, people can easily access a GP outside of regular times without having to go anywhere or deal with the usual delays found at a brick and mortar medical clinic. The following will examine some of the best benefits of these new doctors after hours.

1.   No travel and associated costs

The biggest boon of this new type of doctor after hours is the fact that they can speak to you and provide you with medical expertise without you needing to travel anywhere. All you need to do is pull out your phone or jump on your computer and you can interact with a GP from the comfort of home, getting your issues addresses just as thoroughly as you would with a physical appointment.

Let’s face it, today the roads are jammed with traffic and travelling via public transport is a nightmare – nobody wants to make a trip for something that technology enables them to do at home. Of course, there are some things that you can’t have managed at home, and you will need a physical examination, but there are a wide range of functions that a doctor after hours can facilitate via video conference with their patients.

2.   Less stressful

Engaging with the medical establishment is never a joyous thing most of the time (nobody enjoys being sick and needing help) so naturally people want to get it over and done with. Many people also find clinical environments like clinics to be depressing and confronting places that they can never truly feel comfortable in, no matter how good a GP’s bedside manner may be.

The great things about doctors after hours is that you won’t need to travel to the clinic and endure the ordeal that is waiting rooms and neglectful receptionists. You can totally avoid the worst parts of the medical establishment and directly engage with the only person you actually need or want to deal with.

3.   Less embarrassing

Another great bonus of using doctors after hours is that you can see them for medical issues that may be embarrassing for you to talk about in-person. The video call adds an extra layer of separation between you and the GP, meaning that you can feel more comfortable talking about issues to do with sexual health or other things that are generally awkward to talk about.

This is highly beneficial to public health as it means more people can comfortable and quickly address issues like STI testing where its imperative that people check themselves in and get a second opinion. It’s a good thing for society when more people are able to be open and honest about the medical problems they may be facing and have no fear of embarrassment they have to try and overcome before getting help.

There you have it, 3 reasons why the new doctors after hours are so great.