Table 5.

Draft principles and stakeholder feedback

Draft Principle	Summary of stakeholder feedback
1. Telehealth is best for consultations between GPs and patients with an existing relationship.	The participants thought this principle was quite appropriate and accurate.
2. Patients and GPs should avoid telehealth appointments if they do not know each other (well or at all).	Participants acknowledged that there is a higher potential of risk associated with telehealth consultations if the GP and patient do not know each other. It was suggested if telehealth is unavoidable, additional time should be allowed to establish the appointment parameters and to formalise relationship building and safety netting.
3. If a patient visits a GP in the same practice as their usual GP but does not know them, the GP should be clear that their notes will serve as clinical handover to their usual GP, and they should encourage the patient to book a follow up with that usual GP.	Participants supported this recommendation, recognising that it should be standard practice and is of increased relevance following a telehealth consultation where standard procedures such as physical examination will not have occurred.
4. Training and guidance for communication and relationship building in telehealth can highlight the similarities between in person and telehealth consultations.	Participants thought it was important to reassure doctors that this is a safe technology. They discussed the importance of having training and guidance around communication and promoting similar key messages to consumers.
5. Training and guidance for telehealth can reinforce the value of reflective practice regarding communication, with consideration of the impact of aspects of co-presence and non-mutual realities on a GP’s own interactional practices.	Participants discussed the idea that some people may not have English as their first language and this needs to be factored into determining the appropriateness of telehealth. It was also suggested that the wording of this principle should be simplified.
6. GP practices / professional bodies / government bodies can work toward creating guiding principles for consultations that are suitable for telehealth.	No comments.
7. Ongoing funding / support for telehealth should include consideration of remuneration for additional time spent on tasks when the patient and doctor have ended the telehealth interaction.	This was recognised as a very significant point.