Quick patient guide to video consultations

Some clinics in the NHS are now able to offer a video option for selected consultations. If you are offered a video consultations this means you can connect with your health professional by a video call like Skype, FaceTime or other platforms that have been specially developed for healthcare uses.

The guidance below will help you to prepare for your video consultation and get the most out of it. It may also be helpful for relatives and carers.

A video guide

Why choose it?

    It can help with managing or social distancing, can save you stress, time and money, adds a visual dimension, calls are safe and secure,

What you need

internet connection, a room to talk privately, a device with a camera and microphone for example a computer, tablet or smartphone

Setting up

we will email you your appointment time, we will send you a reminder, make sure you are familiar with the software, we will call you when we are ready

Starting the video call

we will email you your appointment time, we will send you a reminder, make sure you are familiar with the software, we will call you when we are ready

The consultation

if it goes well it will feel like a face to face appointment, if you want to show us something you can try to use the screen camera, if something goes wrong we'll call you instead

Ending the video call

ask us any questions you like before you go, we'll arrange your next appointment, prescription or face to face visit, we'll say goodbye before we go, you can leave your feedback

With thanks to

With thanks to