Meddserve's technology is reaching villagers in Nepal

It takes two days to walk through the mountains to visit the nearest health clinic.

Now a diagnosis can be provided with the click of a computer mouse thanks to an innovation in "telehealth solutions" created in Hull.

Technology developed by Meddserve offered residents in Gerkhutar the chance to have in-depth consultations with doctors who were based more than 30 miles away.

The technology was trialled in the village using a basic computer and internet connection.

Local residents spoke confidentially to a nominated healthcare representative about their symptoms.

Patients were also able to mark on a 3D body image areas where they were experiencing pain or discomfort.

The data was then accessed by a consultant in Kathmandu, using a secure log-in, who used the information to provide diagnosis and suggest treatments.

"Gerkhutar is not easily accessible by car so it was the perfect location to trial telehealth services," said Dr James Britton, a consultant in Dermatology at the Spire Hull and East Riding Hospital, who developed the online system.

"We have been working on this technology for 10 years and, we believe, it is the most advanced system in the world. It ensures that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to healthcare services and because it is delivered through the internet it means it can be used to benefit 80 per cent of Nepal's population that live in rural areas."

Krishna Pandey, of the Nepal High Commission for Information Technology, who carried out the pilot, said: "The first villager who registered for the service said it was like a senior surgeon was in front of them."

Meddserve has two key products – Medsystem online, which manages patients' records to ensure no data goes missing, and Medrecord online, an internet-based system which allows patients to access and control their health records.