POORLY elderly people in Bury could soon be routinely diagnosed over the internet.

That is one of the changes that could be made across the borough to ensure people get effective treatment in the coming decades.

Members of Bury Council’s health scrutiny committee met at the town hall to discuss coming Public Sector Reform changes to health and social care in Bury.

According to a report presented to the committee, the population of people aged over 65living in the borough is set to increase sharply in the next 30 years and health chiefs want to reduce the number of people going to hospital unnecessarily.

The report gives a case study of a fictional 83-year-old woman who lives alone and appears unwell. It says: “Under current arrangements a doctor completes an assessment.

“No support can be found so she is admitted to Accident and Emergency (A&E). She receives treatment and is discharged.”

It adds: “Our vision is that, in future, she has equipment in the house that can monitor her health so her illness is picked up at an early stage and she receives a consultation with a doctor via Skype, a computer programme that allows video phone calls to take place.

“A support worker would visit her, undertake more tests and administer treatment.

“A worker from a voluntary organisation or charity can monitor her for the next 72 hours.”

Dr Peter Thomas, a GP based in Radcliffe, said: “One of the ways the public sector is being reformed while ensuring care is patient centred is by utilising modern technologies.

“Bury has a good uptake in the number of practices that have utilised telephone consultations for patients.

“Red Bank Practice has already seen results, including a drop in A&E attendance rate of approximately 10 per cent.

“We are confident using modern-day technologies such as Skype or webcams in appropriate circumstances has the potential to enhance the services provided by GP practices and this will speed up care.

“Where it is still medically necessary, having a face to face consultation in the patients' home or in the surgery will also form part of patients care.”