NHS ‘Near Me' rolled out for healthcare appointments

All GP Practices, hospitals and other care settings across Scotland have been asked to increase use of remote consultations by telephone or video. It will mean most people can receive urgent health care and advice from their own home.

This is a crucial step to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). From this week, patients who need to see their GP or access other health appointments can now do so, where appropriate, by video – known as ‘NHS Near Me’. This can be from home so there is no need to visit the surgery or hospital. This is a crucial step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Patients who have been given a Near Me video appointment should visit: https://www.wihb.scot.nhs.uk/attend-anywhere/index.html

Near Me is quick and easy to use. When it is the time for your allocated appointment, simply click on the entry button. The call will be answered by a virtual receptionist – a real person – who will ask which clinic or surgery you require. The receptionist will then transfer the call to the right virtual ‘waiting room’ and you will wait there until their clinician accepts the call.

NHS Western Isles Quality Improvement Coordinator, Elizabeth Fowler, said: “This scaling up of Near Me services, as part of the COVID-19 response, offers our patients quick and easy access to health services without the need to leave home, so especially useful for parents and carers, or anyone who is self isolating.”

Technology Enabled Care Project Manager, Iain Trayner, added: “In the Western Isles, we have been offering a variety of Near Me appointments for several years now and we know our patients find them useful, so expanding the service to GP appointments will be very welcome.”

Face to face consultations will continue, where required. However, this additional option for appointments will help reduce avoidable direct contact between healthcare professionals and patients, and also offers a higher quality option than a telephone appointment.

A leaflet offering further information is available to view below.

Download attachments:

• Near Me – Attending your appointment via video – NHS Western Isles_PatientLeaflet.pdf