NHS patients in Lanarkshire are among the first in Scotland to benefit from a new scheme that allows them to have virtual consultations with their GP.

The Attend Anywhere scheme, which has been launched at several practices throughout Lanarkshire, works similarly to FaceTime; providing health and care providers with secure video call services in their day-to-day work.

Leading the innovative project is the Lanarkshire Telehealth team, a regional service hosted within the South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership. The award-winning team is a major partner in the Scottish Government’s Home & Mobile Health Monitoring scheme.

Rather than physically travelling to their appointment, patients are able to enter an ‘online waiting area’ from their computer, smartphone or tablet. Once the user has logged into the virtual waiting room, the service is notified and a practitioner then joins the virtual consultation.

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Despite being in its early stages, the project could mark a “significant step” in the transformation of health and care delivery, according to Linda Findlay, medical director of the health and care partnership.

“The introduction of Attend Anywhere marks another milestone in our journey to deliver health and care that is suited to the changing needs of the people of Lanarkshire,” she said.

“Technology like this can support people to manage their health and wellbeing both safely and conveniently, whilst at the same time, reducing pressure on the health and care system,” Findlay added.

Morag Hearty, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This technology has the real potential to reduce the need for physical GP appointments and saving time so GPs, nurses and other general practice staff can spend more time with those living with the most complex needs.

“Crucially, by investing in improved technology across health and social care, we can improve patients’ experience and give them more choice about how to manage their conditions.”

Hearty added that while the scheme is in its infancy, if Attend Anywhere proves to be a success a wider roll-out of the scheme could occur through practices in Lanarkshire.