Patients should be able to speak to their GPs on Skype, Nick Clegg announced today. The Lib Dem leader wants existing phone appointments extended so doctors can see patients on video calls. Some patients would be uncomfortable with the the prospect of exposing their ailments to their GP over the web. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg wants existing phone appointments extended so doctors can see patients on video calls . Mr Clegg today met patients and staff at Bodmin Community Hospital in Cornwall as he campaigned in the Lib Dem stronghold in the South West . But officials stressed that people would not be forced use the service and insisted it would only be for minor ailments or progress checks. They said it could be used for update appointments, brief progress checks or for when patients needed 'reassurance'. They pointed out many GPs surgeries already use phone appointments which video call services like Skype or FaceTime would improve. The Lib Dems also want repeat prescriptions and booking appointments to be made available online. The Liberal Democrat leader committed to using £250million from the sale of NHS assets deemed to be redundant to fund the use of technology in a drive to create a 'paperless health service' in England. The money would come from the sale of assets including land and buildings such as former accommodation blocks. The Lib Dems said their plans would mean the ability to pay for five million more operations than the Conservatives, and allow them to hire 150,000 more nurses and 38,000 more GPs than Labour . Mr Clegg said: 'The NHS doesn't need warm words, it needs hard cash. And we know exactly how much because the boss of NHS England has told us - an extra GBP8 billion-a-year by 2020. 'The Liberal Democrats are the only party that has committed to finding that money and the only one that has set out how it will pay for it. 'But we also need to help the NHS adapt so it is fit for the challenges of the 21st century. 'That's why we have a plan to introduce modern technology that will help patients, with more doctors' appointments and repeat prescriptions at the touch of a button.' Mr Clegg, who was visiting Bodmin Community Hospital as part of his election tour, said: 'Both Ed Miliband and David Cameron have ignored the experts on this. Only the Liberal Democrats have listened.' The party claims that they would spend £17 billion more than the Tories and £7 billion more than Labour on the NHS. The Lib Dems said their plans would mean the ability to pay for five million more operations than the Conservatives, and allow them to hire 150,000 more nurses and 38,000 more GPs than Labour.
Phone appointments replaced by doctors seeing patients on video calls .
Repeat prescriptions and booking appointments could also go online .
£250million from sale of NHS assets to create a 'paperless health service'