Video appointments

• A video appointment is just as convenient as a phone call with the added value of face-to-face communication. It can save you time and money, and brings your care closer to home. 
• Video appointments are secure – your privacy is protected. You have your own private video room that only authorised healthcare professionals (clinicians) can enter. You can have a family member or friend with you during your video appointment if you would find this helpful.
• You don’t use any data while waiting for a clinician to join you. A video appointment uses a similar amount of data to Skype or FaceTime. It is free (except for your internet usage). 
• If you can connect to a home or work Wi-Fi network, you won’t need to use your mobile data allowance. Don’t connect to public WiFi unless you have a secure VPN.

1. Make sure you are somewhere that you feel comfortable – somewhere that is well lit and where you will not be disturbed.
2. Check that you are using Google Chrome Windows 7+, Android 5.1+, MacOS 10.11+, Apple Safari MacOS 10.12+, iOS 11.4+, iPadOS 13+ or Microsoft Edge browser.
3. Before your appointment, you can test that your camera, microphone and speakers are working by going to the Attend Anywhere test page.
4. To attend your video appointment, click the secure link you were sent in your digital appointment letter. Press the ‘Start video call’ button and follow the instructions.
5. You will enter your own ‘waiting room’. No one else can see or hear you – it is completely private.
6. Your healthcare provider will see that you have entered the waiting room. Your clinician will join you when they are ready for your appointment. Don’t worry if they do not join you straight away – they will be with you as soon as they can.

If you have any problems connecting to your video appointment, call the number on your appointment letter.

This video explains how Attend Anywhere video appointments work. It tells you how to join your video appointment. You might find it helpful to watch this video before your first video appointment. 

Video transcript 

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Getting to an appointment can often be time consuming and tiring but many services are now offering appointments using a video call just like Skype or FaceTime. 

This allows you to see your clinician from the convenience of your own home, local centre or workplace. It has been designed to be easy to use with just a few simple steps to get going. 

You might be sent an appointment letter from the hospital or receive an email or text message from the GP surgery or other service. This will include details of your appointment and a web address to enter into your browser. 

You can use a desktop computer, tablet, laptop or smartphone. Just make sure it has a webcam, microphone, speakers or headphones and a reasonable internet connection. 

It is a good idea to test everything a few days before your appointment. If you are using a computer or laptop, use the link you have been given and click the test call button. This will take you through some checks to make sure that everything will work on the day. 

You will need to use the Google Chrome browser on your Windows-based computers and Android devices or the Safari browser on Apple devices. 

If you don’t have Chrome on your Windows computer, you will need to install it first. It’s free to download. 

If you don’t have suitable equipment or you can’t get it to work, phone the number on your letter or get in contact with the clinic. They might be able to arrange some help for you to use a computer in your local centre or they will ask you to come in instead. 

Wherever you choose to make your video call, you will need to make sure that it is private, quiet and well lit but avoid a bright light or sunshine behind you, just as if you are taking a photo. 

Though, if you’re using a smartphone or tablet, try to keep it as steady as possible. Prop it up and leave your hands free for something more important.

A couple of minutes before your appointment is due to start, click on the start video call button. The system will run through some checks to make sure everything is working. 

Then it will ask for your name, phone number and date of birth. This is only so the clinician knows who is calling – your details won’t be kept. 

You will then go into your own private video room. All that you have to do then is wait. 

When they are ready to see you, they will join you in the video room and your appointment will go ahead as normal. 

If for any reason the sound or picture starts to break up, or the call drops, simply click the refresh button at the top of the screen. This restarts the call exactly where you left off. 

If you can’t get the video call to connect properly or if you’ve been waiting too long without seeing anyone, phone the number on your screen or letter or contact the clinic but try not to hang up your video call in case they are just running late. 

At the end of your consultation, just say goodbye and if necessary click the end button on the screen. 

Attending your appointment using a video call gives you access to the same high standard of care without the disruption of travelling, saving you time, energy and money and saving the environment too.

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