Telephone and video consultations hailed a success

TELEPHONE and video consultations for NHS patients accessing primary and secondary health care are being hailed a success by patients and NHS staff in Leicestershire.

Patients accessing online consultations with hospital staff, for health visiting services, language therapy and a patient with Parkinson’s disease, receiving online therapy from home, virtual consultations are proving to be both an effective and popular choice with patients and NHS staff.

The local NHS has responded quickly to the coronavirus pandemic by working in new and innovative ways across the NHS system, to integrate and deliver health services including advice, diagnosis and treatment to patients safely.

Latest figures from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust show more than 900 telephone and video consultations are being delivered from Leicester’s Hospitals every day.

A small but growing number of appointments are taking place via video at Leicester’s hospitals.

The Trust has also piloted video consultations in areas as broad as haematology, dermatology and general surgery. In other areas, such as diabetes, staff rapidly set up virtual clinic software to conduct video consultations with patients.

Face-to-face appointments and 24/7 A&E services are still available for people who need them, including vulnerable patients and people experiencing symptoms of serious medical conditions such as stroke and heart attack. People are urged to always seek urgent medical attention when they need it.

People should seek advice and treatment by phoning their GP practice in the first instance, NHS111 or in the case of an emergency, by accessing emergency services.

People who need to access urgent care services or a Minor Injury Unit should also book an appointment through their practice or NHS 111, rather than walk-in.