Google suspended Leeds GP surgeries' smartphone app because it mentioned coronavirus

Methven Forbes said the smartphone app, which was launched two years ago, has more than 2,500 active users among patients at Bramley Village Health and Wellbeing Centre, Cottingley GP surgery and Middleton Park GP surgery.

Mr Forbes said that by removing the app from its online Play store, Google undermined their ability to provide healthcare during lockdown at a time when patients are being asked not to attend in person unless absolutely necessary with most consultations now being carried out remotely.

Patients have used the app a total of 24,666 times in the last 12 months.

Mr Forbes, who runs the practices with Dr Mark Fuller, said 42 per cent of patient users access the app via an android phone.

Mr Forbes said at the beginning of April Google wrote to say the app was suspended and removed because of a policy violation relating to their 'Sensitive Events Policy' as it referenced coronavirus.

Mr Forbes appealed three times against the decision and Google replied to say all references to the Coronavirus must be removed from the smartphone app.

He said Google has now reinstated the app, which was out of action for three weeks during a critical period, after they provided several hundred pages of evidence.

Mr Forbes said: "The smartphone app is a critical component to being able to provide care to our patients. Unfortunately, at the exact moment when our smartphone app mattered the most, Google banned it because our app contained advice to patients about coronavirus.

"The app offers an e-consultation service, where patients can open the app or visit the website and complete an online consultation which is then reviewed and actioned by a clinical staff member."

Mr Forbes said: "Since March 16, when patients have been asked not to attend GP surgery in person unless triaged, the three GP surgeries have had over 3,000 e-consults completed.

"It is because our smartphone app specifically mentions the coronavirus that they took the decision to remove our app. This means patients who have an Android smartphone could not download and/or use the app for accessing our healthcare services."

Google declined to comment.