Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when hospitals will resume face-to-face consultations within urology, neurology and dermatology departments during the covid-19 outbreak.

The resumption of face-to-face appointments for different specialities is dependent on clinical necessity, local circumstances and capacity.

The importance of providing face-to-face appointments for those who need them has been clearly communicated. Virtual consultations have been invaluable in protecting staff and patients from avoidable risk of infection during the pandemic. However, we appreciate that they are not appropriate in all cases and around two-thirds of outpatients are now being seen face-to-face.