When he was appointed successor to Lord O'S, Matt Hancock said in an interview that he was excited about the prospect of improving the use of IT in the NHS. Little did any of us know that this would evidence itself in what has been reported today:
In a bid to relieve pressure on the NHS, Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged Britons to use Amazon's ALEXA for health advice instead of seeing a Dr.
You couldn't make it up ........
No available appointments with my nominated GP for over six weeks, meanwhile the surgery's updated website now offers cyber appointments in preference for visiting the medical centre.
I've been trying for 36 hrs to even get through on the phone .... The recorded message goes on for ever now, presumably to ease us into using ALEXA, but you can't actually get to speak to a human being. It is very telling that it includes a statement that "all calls are recorded for the purposes of training, quality and CONFLICT RESOLUTIONS". When on earth did it become necessary to presume all interactions with patients ended in conflict .....
Oh, so Alexa can issue prescriptions now then! Seriously MaisieGray, where did you hear/read this?
It was on the news today, and is reported on the BBC News website as well as by the Guardian and other news sources :
bbc.co.uk/news/health-48925345
theguardian.com/society/201...
Thanks for the links HB. the excerpt above makes more sense when you see it in context. The Alexa aspect is offered for people with disabilities who can't access the usual internet sources. And as you say below, it is of course only going to give 'credible' info because it comes from NHS sources 
I don't think it is in any way being made remotely credible simply because it draws some or any of its data from NHS Choices. I had my first ever telephone appointment on Monday, which was pretty dire and second rate compared with a face to face appt - compounded by the fact that the locum GP had a broad Nigerian-sounding accent, kept speaking away from the phone, sounded as if he was in an echo chamber, and I have a degree of deafness in any case; then I have spent all yesterday and today trying and failing to get through on the phone to speak to anyone at either surgery because he sent the blood request form to my local surgery but the X-ray request form to the surgery some miles away; and in any case apparently it's not needed in order to attend the X-ray unit so I'm trying and failing to explain why I shan't be picking it up, in order to avoid a critical note being added to my file along the lines of 'she tells us she's really ill but can't be bothered to go for the X-ray' (I actually went yesterday, minus the form). So just when I thought it couldn't get worse, the bloody Healthy Minister (what a joke that title is) tells us to use ALEXA. I have gone from a lifetime of being pragmatic and respectful of health practitioners within the NHS, to cynical, very angry, and thinking they are a bunch of uneducated stupid lazy sheisters, never mind that we were told yesterday about how operations are being cancelled as the overtime affects the surgeons' and anaesthetists' pensions ....
MaisieGray, "I don't think it is in any way being made remotely credible simply because it draws some or any of its data from NHS Choices. "
I totally agree, that's why I put a winking smiley after my words. I perhaps should have made it clearer that I was being sarcastic!
That's okay RedApple , I was commenting in the same vein as yourself, I didn't think you were being a proponent of the scheme. I'm feeling particularly vexed today as a result of an incident this morning whilst attending for my blood draw, which I'll report separately if I can summon up the emotional wherewithal 😖
Hear hear! I won't relate my NHS tales of the rediculous here but I share your about-turn re the NHS.....as for their admin, my 5 year old grandson has more nous!
I am truly sorry that you have all that going on with your healthcare in the UK ☹️ I am hoping for great improvement in it for you all. In the US we have abundant healthcare, but it’s not always great, along with a lot of inept, nincompoop Drs. so I can’t even imagine what you all are going through, I’m sorry 😐
Oh bless you, what a lovely thought. Thank you DebTex Wishing you all that you need too, on your side of the pond. 🙂
Thank you too MaisieGray, sending the same wishes back to you, on your side of the pond!
Deb, it’s bad news everywhere for healthcare. Canada has also begun to show big cracks in our system - we have good care but not enough of it. And of course , ineptitude goes with the territory. Have a good day today and let’s hope things improve . Good wishes for all of us on both sides of the Atlantic. 🙏🏻
Thank you, let’s all do hope for improvement on both sides, you take good care.
I saw him on BBC Breakfast this morning. What next?? Things are going from bad to worse.
I wonder how is Alexa superior to Dr Google, considering patients get belittled for consulting Google.
I think it is considered better than Google because Alexa will get its information only from the NHS Choices website.
There are videos on YouTube of an African grey parrot in the US that has learnt to interact with Alexa, and is by far the more competent of the two; so I'll maybe set up video link appointments with the parrot instead. 😂
You made my day, MaisieGray! Thanks for that. Let me know what the parrot has to say. 😂
Take one peanut four times daily or as required ......
For those not familiar with Alexa and wanting to learn more, and for a little light relief after my initiating doom and gloom here (sorry), here's Petra the African Grey parrot showing how it's done - plus the chance to see her all round skills as she relaxes at home ...... 😉 m.youtube.com/watch?v=ewpte...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Maybe time to re-visit the above post by Londinium and the associated videos explaining WIGO - what is going on ! Obviously Matt Hancock is preparing us all 
Thanks for the link Marz I must have missed that when it was posted.
You're welcome ! I mentioned in a reply the other day about surgeries being amalgamated and tick box consultations ! Apparently it has already started in Cornwall ( so far away from London )
I can only suggest Mr H must be a Star Trek fan!
For ALEXA read EMH!!
"The EMH is a holographic computer program designed to treat patients during emergency situations, or when the regular medical staff is unavailable or incapacitated. EMHs are a standard feature onboard all Starfleet ships, but they are there only to supplement the living'
Sorry...spent too many hours watching Star Trek with my husband and sons!
Just a thought.....
You know things are bad when the prospect of a holographic computer program sounds infinitely preferable to what's on offer ...... 😂
lol
To be accurate, Matt Hancock replaced the previous Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt.
Lord O'Shaughnessy was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health, and was replaced by Nicola Blackwood.
However I agree about the Healthcare situation!
What Next - Big Brother? Our Health Details are going to be accessed by all and sundry - if we don't Opt Out before the launch.
Can you afford bottled water when Hancock dumps fluoride in it?
Fluoride in your tap water 
