Video consultations
Your video consultation appointment
Your outpatient appointment might be scheduled to take place by video. This is called a video consultation.
It can save you time and money and make your consultation easier, as you will not need to travel to us. You may also be more comfortable discussing your health from home.
How to arrange your video consultation
If the clinician thinks a video appointment is suitable, then they may schedule it for you without you needing to request it. However there are times when you might be scheduled for a face-to-face outpatient appointment, when you would prefer a telephone call or video consultation – you are very welcome to contact the service requesting this. The clinician will assess appropriateness of a telephone or video consultation on a case-by case basis. You will not normally be offered a video consultation if you need blood tests or scans, or if the clinician needs to carry out an examination.
If a video consultation is agreed, you will be sent information about what you need to do to join the video consultation. Please hold one hour available from the start time of the appointment, just in case the clinic is running late.
Starting the video consultation
We usually use one of two systems to provide your video consultation – either accuRx or Attend Anywhere. The department you have your appointment with will tell you which one they will use for your appointment.
accuRx
If we are using accuRx for your video consultation, we will give you a link to click on in a text message (or email) just before the appointment slot. Please ensure your mobile phone volume is turned on, so that you hear the invite arrive.
By clicking on the link, you will start a safe and secure call between our video camera and the video camera on your device.
If you are experiencing any issues, the accuRx website support page can help.
Attend Anywhere
If we are using Attend Anywhere for your video consultation then the department will send you the link you need to use to access the virtual waiting room in advance of the consultation. This might be done via the appointment letter, or in a separate email or text message.
You simply need to click on that link using the Google Chrome web browser on a desktop or laptop, or on an Android tablet or smartphone. You should use the Safari web browser on an Apple iMac, MacBook, iPad, or iPhone. This may require you to copy and paste the link into the appropriate browser.
Alternatively, the links to access our virtual waiting rooms can be found here:
Children's Asthma, Diabetes, Drama and Nurses - Video consultation guide for patients
Children's Physio - Video consultation guide for patients
Children's Physio - Video consultation guide for patients
CHS Cardiology - Video consultation guide for patients
CHS Diabetes - Video consultation guide for patients
Community Children's - Video consultation guide for patients
Croyderm - Video consultation guide for patients
Hospital Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery - Video consultation guide for patients
Neurology and Rheumatology - Video consultation guide for patients
Nutrition and Dietetics - Video consultation guide for patients
Psychological Support Service - Video consultation guide for patients
Public Health Nursing - Video consultation guide for patients
Willows Outpatients - Video consultation guide for patients
This video provides a useful overview of Attend Anywhere:
If you are experiencing any issues, the Attend Anywhere website support pages and poster can help.
Further information and support
Video consultations are secure
You have your own digital video room that only authorised clinicians can enter. We will not take a recording of your consultation, and personal details entered at the start of video consultation will be deleted at the end of it.
Your own internet usage cost
Video calls are free, except for your own internet usage arrangements. A video call uses a similar amount of data to a Skype or FaceTime call (roughly 500 MB for 20 minutes). We recommend that patients connect to their home or work Wi-Fi to avoid using their mobile data allowance.
If you cannot attend
If you cannot join the video consultation at the time it has been arranged for then, please contact us to let us know as soon as possible. Please try and provide us with a minimum of two working days’ notice, so that we can give the appointment slot to somebody else. Contact details for each department should be on the appointment letter you received.