Selfie assessment is a real test

As a preliminary assessment these days, it's common practice for doctors to request photo attachments from patients to help them decide whether a trip to the surgery is really necessary.

- Ken Rogers

It’s a perfectly understandable support action, but it can be irritating and challenging, especially for seniors.

I must admit, I still struggle to take even a basic personal ‘selfie,’ let alone an image that might be meaningful as part of this modern medical triage process. Quite often it may seem we are being asked by a receptionist for proof positive that we are worthy of a face-to-face appointment, though they don’t actually view any submitted attachments, rather making them available to the GP.

In the first instance, many surgeries insist on everything being done online. A friend recently explained how she was urged to take a picture of her swollen tonsils. If you think that’s a piece of cake, give it a try yourself.

Hold a torch with one hand and take the requested snapshot with the other. Oh yes, and don’t forget to say ‘Ah, or ‘Ah! Bisto’ if you want to cheer yourself up.