NHS Video consultations

Video consultations are a safe and easy way for you to have your appointment with the care team from the comfort of your home, without the need for you to travel to hospital. This can save you time, money, and the difficulty of getting to hospital.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic more outpatient appointments have been held using video consultation technology. We will continue to offer this service to our patients.

We have partnered with DrDoctor to deliver this service to you.

How do video consultations work?

This short video gives you an overview of how to use the system and explains what to expect before and during the appointment.

Your video consultation

1. Before the appointment, we'll send you a text message or email with details of your video appointment, including the date and time. Follow the drdoctor.thirdparty.nhs.uk link to login and view details of your appointment and add it to your personal calendar. If you have not received the link please call the booking team number in your appointment letter. This is not your appointment video link. See step 3.

2. Check you have what you need for your video consultation. You will need a:

Device with a camera and speaker (these are usually built into your smartphone, tablet, or laptop).
Good connection to the internet. Use Wi-Fi where possible which may have a better connection and will not use your mobile data allowance.
Quiet, well-lit room where you will not be disturbed. If you are by a bright light, like a window, sit so the light is on your face not behind you.
Make sure any equipment you are using is fully charged or connected to a power supply.
Table or surface to prop your device on, so your camera stays steady during the call.

Please note video consultations do not work on Internet Explorer. The best browsers to use are Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

3. One to two hours before your appointment, we'll send you a text message or email with a secure link to your video consultation.

4. Click the link we send you a few minutes before your appointment to join your private video consultation. Please join a few minutes before your appointment to test your audio and video are working. If you are having any trouble, please see the FAQ section.

5. Please wait for your clinician to join your private video consultation. Occasionally there may a short delay and your appointment may not start at the planned time. This might be because the clinician needs to spend a little longer with another patient. If this happens, please stay on the call. Your clinician may send you a message within the video room to let you know.

6. If there is difficulty with your video consultation your clinician will phone you on your mobile number. Please see if suggestions in the FAQ section can solve any issues. Your clinician will phone you on your mobile number if problems persist. Please ensure you have provided us with the correct number so we can get in touch with you if we need to. You can also call the booking number at the top of your appointment letter.

Consent

If you do not want to have a video consultation, please let the booking team know. The clinician should also check you are ok to proceed on video at the start of the video consultation, but consent is implied when you click on the link to the video consultation.

Device and browser requirements

Video consultations are compatible with most devices. However, they may not work with some older devices.

Windows: Windows 7 and later
Mac: MacOS 10.10 and later
Linux: Any x64 based system
iPhone and iPad:

- For Safari - iOS version 13.1 and late
- For Chrome - iOS 14.5 and later

Tips for your video consultation

Look at the screen. There is no need to look directly at the camera.
Use the screen camera to show things, such as where you are feeling pain.
If you get cut off and can't reconnect, wait for a phone call.
Write down advice or instructions, and make sure you understand the next steps. Ask if you are unclear about anything.
If all goes well, the call will feel like a face-face appointment.
When you've both said goodbye, you can disconnect.

Download a copy of the DrDoctor Video Consultations patient information leaflet.