VIEWS are being sought on video consultation health and care services delivered in the Wee County.

The national Near Me programme, which has seen a rapid increase in locals accessing NHS Forth Valley services remotely during the coronavirus lockdown, is looking for feedback from patients.

Across the Forth Valley, the use of video consultations skyrocketed from less than 100 a week prior to March to almost 1,000 a week and 8,000 in total by June.

Bette Locke, associate director of allied health professions at NHS Forth Valley, said: “Near Me video consulting is now being extensively used throughout Forth Valley and has played a vital role in enabling local people to keep in contact with a wide range of healthcare professionals during the pandemic.

“This includes nurses, doctors and AHPs such as physiotherapists and speech and language therapists who have been keen to embrace the use of this new technology.”

People offered a Near Me video consultation at home need to have a device for making a video call, such as a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection.

To use the system patients are given a link to a Near Me clinic and can start their video call from there.

The system asks the patient to enter his or her name and date of birth.

The patient is then held in a secure virtual waiting room until the clinician joins the video call and the consultation then takes place as normal.

Clare Morrison, who co-leads the national Near Me programme, said: “Throughout the country health and care providers, as well as patients, have been embracing the use of Near Me in recent months and this experience has made many people realise its true potential, hence our vision.

“However, as we plan ahead we want to understand what the general public think about Near Me and its future use and we hope our survey will allow us to do that.”

She added: “People across the NHS Forth Valley area have a part to play in shaping the future use by telling us how it can be further improved.

“I would urge people to check out the Near Me vision and give us their feedback including by taking the online survey.”

Visit nearme.scot/views to complete the survey and give feedback.