Information in practice Telephone consultations

Since its invention in 1876 the telephone has been used as a tool for delivering health care: Alexander Graham Bell’s first recorded telephone call was for medical help after he spilt sulphuric acid on himself. By the 1970s clinical enthusiasts were describing the telephone as having become as much a part of standard medical equipment as the stethoscope. However, despite the widespread use of telephones in daily life and the range of possible benefits that telephones offer in medical encounters their role in medical practice remains, for many clinicians, highly controversial. We aim to summarise the evidence evaluating the role of telephones in helping to deliver clinical care by considering three of the most commonly asked questions: x How acceptable is care delivered by telephone to members of the public and healthcare professionals? x What is the scope for consultations facilitated by telephone in the management of acute and chronic disorders? x How can the quality and safety of telephone consultations be ensured?