A major on-line GP service has signed deals which will see it help provide NHS services to nearly two million patients, it has been revealed.

The deal is a coup for the Livi service, which has provided a private on-line GP services. It has signed deals with GP federations in Birmingham, Shropshire, Northamptonshire and parts of the south-east, the Health Service Journal reported.

Patients will at first be offered video consultations with doctors employed by Livi, the UK division of a European company Kry. Under the arrangements, Livi will be developing systems that will eventually connect users with doctors and other staff in their own practices.

The Our Health Partnership in Birmingham will be offering the service to 470,000 patients. Board partner Dr Alex Meyer said: “Our partnership with Livi will bring video GP consultations to more than 40 existing GP practices across Birmingham and Shropshire, significantly increasing access to healthcare.”

Luke Buhl-Nielsen, from Livi, said: “Livi’s mission is to improve access to healthcare for every patient and we are pleased to be working in collaboration with GP surgeries in Birmingham and Shropshire to roll-out our services to patients there. We all know that illness doesn’t always strike between nine and five and often and it can be difficult to see a GP out of hours.”