A new system of videoconferencing for patients being introduced in Stepping Hill Hospital and local community NHS services is set to revolutionise the way many of them receive their consultations.

The first to benefit from the new service were heart failure patients, and the first consultations were carried out successfully last week. The first users of the service provided feedback as to how user friendly the video consultations were and were very happy with the experience.

All patients need to access the service is a device with enabled video and audio equipment such as a smart phone, tablet or PC with webcam. Now that the pilot service has been successful the plan is for many more services to adopt this way of engaging with patients. There are plans to roll the system in stages, and all patients using the system will be contacted directly beforehand with all the information they need.

Some of the services who will be starting to deliver video consultations in the next six weeks are children’s services, rheumatology, gastroenterology, gynaecology and  urology. The plans are to include all services in later stages.

The video consultations allow medical, nursing and other clinical staff to make face-to-face consultations via video-link. While the system works on a similar principle to the videoconferencing software many more people are using now, it has enhanced data security and additional features such as a virtual waiting rooms. The system is also being introduced in other trusts in Greater Manchester.

Third parties can join the call both from the patient and the clinical side, for instance if the patients wishes to be joined by family members, or if they need examinations and advice from more than one clinician at the same time. 

Since the Covid19 emergency began, some consultations at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both hospital and community services, have been postponed, while many others now take place over the phone. In some cases consultations in person will still be vital, such as with wound or ulcer care, or if a patient doesn’t have access to a tablet, smartphone or PC, but in many cases they will not.

The new system allows clinical staff to have a better and more personal assessment  as they have visual as well as audio contact with the patient.

Not attending in person greatly reduces the risk of infection for both patients and clinicians which is so vital during the current public health emergency. It is also generally more convenient and less time consuming for all parties, as well as reducing ‘DNA’s for patients wo are unable to travel due to being unwell or for other reasons.

Due to its advantages there were already plans to introduce the system later this year, but the Covid19 emergency has greatly accelerated the process. A great deal of work has gone into the technology, planning and training to ensure the system is effective and safe to use.

Hugh Mullen Deputy Chief Executive for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “Videoconferencing was already set to revolutionise the way many of our patients receive their consultations, but the current health emergency has meant we have had to work much harder and faster in putting it into place. Everyone involved has done an incredible job in getting it up and running so quickly.

The new system is not just much safer in terms of helping preventing the spread of coronavirus, its also far more efficient and makes things easier for so many of our patients. Those who need consultations in person will still have them, but for others avoiding a long trip to and from hospital will make life a lot easier.”