Near Me

The Scottish Government Near Me programme aims to provide the people of Scotland the choice to attend health, care and other appointments via video call where appropriate. 

By TEC Team, Fri, 11/06/2021

Organisational Guidance

Multiple hands creating a jigsaw puzzle

This document is intended for Near Me implementation teams in NHS boards/HSCPs.

Near Me video consulting (powered by Attend Anywhere) can be used to reduce exposure to coronavirus by enabling both patients and clinicians to consult while in isolation. It can also increase organisational resilience by protecting the workforce and enabling support to be provided from different geographical locations.

Scenarios where video consulting may be beneficial include:

By TEC Team, Thu, 10/06/2021

Near Me Reaches One Millionth User

NHS Fife assistant psychologist Kimberley Elston, who carried out the millionth Near Me consultation

The ground-breaking system that allows clinicians to consult with patients by video link has been used for the millionth time in Scotland.

By TEC Team, Thu, 10/06/2021

Outpatient Guidance

Empty seats in waiting area

This document is intended for NHS Scotland hospital outpatient services.

Near Me video consulting can be used to reduce exposure to coronavirus by enabling both patients and clinicians to consult while in isolation. It can also be used to reduce footfall in outpatient departments, protect the clinical workforce through reduced exposure to risk of infection, and increase resilience by enabling clinical support to be provided from different geographical locations.

Publicising your Near Me Service

We know that not everyone in Scotland is aware of the Near Me service. But when asked, many people said they would like the option to have an appointment by video if that would be appropriate for their circumstances. To help raise the profile of your service, a local approach works well. There are many ways to do this and here are just a few.

Training

Training for Providers

The Near Me service runs on the Attend

Apply for a Waiting Area

To use Near Me as a service provider, you need access to the Attend Anywhere platform and a space to meet your callers. Applying for access is a simple process; just fill out the application form. This is then processed by the National VC Team. If you get stuck on any of the questions, help is available from the team.

Once you are set up, you can manage your Waiting Area locally. Things like adding users, resetting passwords, configuring the space are easily done using the easy to follow menus.

Near Me