Babylon GP at Hand expands face-to-face offering in response to ‘patient demand’

Online provider Babylon GP at Hand is opening two new clinics in London, in response to a rise in demand for face-to-face consultations.

Victoria-based Dean Farrar Street clinic opened last week, and Drummond Street clinic will open in Euston next month.

Both clinics will open from 8am to 8pm during the week and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays, the provider said.

Babylon UK medical director Dr Matthew Noble said: ‘We’ve seen a rise in the number of appointments and we are responding to this demand by opening two new clinics in convenient locations…’

Adding that this would ‘increase access to quality care when needed, while helping to minimise unnecessary GP visits, receive personalised attention as needed, and provide dedicated clinician time for the patients that need them most’.

Babylon’s NHS arm GP at Hand became the first practice in England to register more than 100,000 patients on a single list in August.

Concerns have previously been raised around the safety Babylon’s digital GP offer, including by a doctor who was labelled a ‘troll’ by Babylon after he tested its AI app and reported the results on social media.

The provider has been accused by critics of ‘cherry-picking’ younger, healthier patients, leaving other practices to care for patients with greater needs. 

GP at Hand controversially enjoyed the endorsement of then-health secretary Matt Hancock when it launched in 2018.

Upon complaints from GPs, including the RCGP, Mr Hancock said it did not differ to other GP practices who are also ‘private’.

Meanwhile, Pulse revealed in June 2021 that NHSX and NHS England were considering the viability of a wider roll out of an artificial intelligence triage model based on that used by Babylon.

Babylon said in October that it required ‘significant cash’ ahead of its impending listing on the US stock exchange.