NHS trust launches video consultations in response to COVID-19
A Coventry and Warwickshire NHS trust is using new technologies to offer video consultations for their patients, to help them to receive the care they need in the current circumstances.
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) is using Attend Anywhere, a platform offering video consultations for patients, who have been identified as someone who may be suitable for this type of appointment. These appointments reduce the need for patients, and their carers to leave their homes and travel to clinical premises.
The first to use the new platform have been the Trust’s Crisis Teams and the system will be rolled out across the Trust in a phased approach over the coming weeks.
Attend Anywhere will allow patients to see their clinicians via video from their own homes, meaning regular contact and clinical monitoring reporting can continue even if patients or healthcare professionals are self-isolating.
Sharon Binyon, Medical Director at CWPT said: “Like every NHS Trust in the country, our priority in our coronavirus response is to keep patients, staff and the public as safe as possible.
“We have been looking at ways to improve our patient experience, as we have learnt in recent years a significant number of our patients do not always need to come in to clinic for their appointments. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, having a service like Attend Anywhere has become a valuable tool for our clinicians and patients.
“People are naturally cautious given the current circumstance, and may not feel comfortable to attend appointments. By offering video consultations, it keeps our staff and patients safe, and allows a flexible response.”
Attend Anywhere is a secure NHS video consultation service, allowing patients to hold consultations with healthcare professionals, and works on a PC, Mac or an iOS/Android device, using either a Google Chrome or Apple Safari browser.
The launch of Attend Anywhere will now form part of the Trust’s overall Digital Transformation Strategy to enhance patient experience using the latest technology. For more information visit: www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/attend-anywhere-video-consultations