Video appointments

Video appointments let you talk to a clinician using your smartphone, tablet or computer.

This can save you time and money as you will not need to travel to one of our hospitals.

It can also help if you:

• find it difficult to travel to hospital
• feel more comfortable talking about your health in your own home

Who can use video appointments

Your doctor or nurse will usually offer you a video appointment when:

• a physical examination or test is not needed
• it's easier or beneficial for you to stay at home
• it might be useful to see your home environment or at-home medical devices

You can still choose to come to the hospital. You can also return to having face-to-face appointments after a video appointment if you wish.

How video appointments work

You get a letter or email and a text message with the date and time of your appointment.

These messages give you the link to your virtual waiting room on Attend Anywhere. This is the website that we use for the video call.

When you open the link to the video appointment, you are asked to enter some information to help us identify you. Once signed in, wait for our clinician to greet you.

Watch patients share tips on how to get the most out of your video appointments.

How to get started

The NHS has information about what you need to make a video call.

Please check and test your equipment in advance. You can practise joining the virtual waiting room at any time.

1. Click on the link in your text message if using your smartphone, or type the link into the browser on your computer.
2. Click on the 'Start video' call button and follow the instructions.
3. You wait in your own private video room. Your clinician can see you arrive in the waiting area queue. None of the other people will be able to see you or any of your details.
4. Your clinician joins you in your video room when they're ready. There might be a short delay and your appointment might not run at the planned time. When this happens the consultant will aim to send you a message.
5. You can see the clinician and they can see you. You will not have to type your responses to any questions.
6. At the end of the appointment, the clinician disconnects the call and the web page will close. If you would like to leave the call before this point, use the 'End' button in the top right-hand corner.

If the connection drops out

If you are disconnected, the clinician will try to reconnect. If this cannot be done by video, they may try to call the mobile number we have on your record. Please make sure the contact details we have for you are kept up to date.

Internet and data usage

The video call is free (except for your internet usage). You don't use any data while waiting for a clinician to join you. A video call uses a similar amount of data to Skype or FaceTime.

Find a waiting room

Please only join the virtual waiting room when directed by your clinician. If you join the waiting room outside of your agreed appointment time, you'll not be seen.

Your data and privacy

How your data is used

No part of your online video appointment is recorded or permanently digitally stored.

The medical outcomes of the appointment are recorded and stored as part of your patient records held by the hospital. This happens in the same way as for face-to-face or phone appointments.

Some personal information is stored on the computer being used. It is important to know this, particularly if you're using a public or shared computer.

Read more about your health records data is collected and used.

Security and privacy

Video calls are secure. Your privacy is protected. You have your own private video room that only you and authorised clinicians can enter.

Video consultations are securely encrypted. It's your responsibility to have anti-spyware and anti-virus protection on the computer or phone you use for your video appointment. 

If you are using a mobile phone, this may be only as secure as any other phone call on that mobile network.