Practice leads way with video call appointments
Huntergreen Medical Practice has become one of the first in Scotland to offer patients virtual appointments with their GP.
The East Kilbride health centre is in the process of trialling the new Attend Anywhere scheme.
Working on a similar basis to Facetime, the ground-breaking initiative allows patients to dial in and talk with their doctor from home, work, or even when on holiday.
And the technology allows health and social care providers to offer secure video call access to their services as part of their day-to-day work.
Morag Hearty, from NHS Lanarkshire, said the technology has the “real potential” to reduce the need for physical GP appointments, helping to save time and allowing health staff to spend more time with those with the most complex needs.
She added: “Crucially, by investing in improved technology across health and social care, we can improve patients’ experience and outcomes and give them more choice about how to manage their conditions.”
Instead of travelling to their appointment, patients or service users enter an online waiting area from their computer, smartphone or tablet.
The service is notified when they arrive, and a health or social care provider joins the virtual consultation.
Not only can the virtual consultations help people fit appointments into their busy lifestyles, it helps those with mobility, serious health or confidence issues ‘attend’ at their doctors’ without leaving their home.
If the improvement study goes well at Huntergreen Medical Practice, it will be rolled out at several practices in Lanarkshire.
The first trial consultation was held at Huntergreen last week and some patients of the surgery may now be offered this type of appointment, where appropriate, from next week.
Lanarkshire Telehealth team, a Lanarkshire-wide service hosted within South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, is leading the ground-breaking work.
Ms Hearty added: “It’s important to note we are in the early stages of this programme and, during this phase, Attend Anywhere will only be offered to patients when appropriate at a few participating practices.
“We will be closely monitoring the results of this early work and using it as a platform for a wider rollout.
“The overriding aim is to augment existing services and ensure delivery of health and care that is secure, safe and tailored to people’s lifestyles.”
Linda Findlay, medical director of the health care partnership, said such technology can support people to “manage their health and wellbeing” while “reducing pressure on the health and care system”.