Skype has long been proven as a useful way to enable people to communicate abroad. The internet has helped create face to face video calls in a way that was, for a long time, only seen as science fiction.

It could, however, also be used to help prevent the outbreak of Ebola in the UK. A Manchester GP, Sirfaz Hussain, and his team of fellow GPs at the Manchester Medical Practice have been using Skype to help cut waiting times and avoid using the nearest A&E department. The system has cut unnecessary appointments, improving efficiency and saving money in the process.

It could be used to help potentially prevent an outbreak of Ebola in the UK. Those with potential symptoms could be diagnosed remotely before determining if they were safe to return to the UK.

Sirfaz Hussain says: “It could really come into its own in triaging, to narrow down the serious and milder cases and to arrange their management as symptoms emerge. The key is that it could handle lots of patients.”