Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the Trust has had to significantly change the way it works in order to continue to meet the needs of local people, whilst trying to keep travel to an absolute minimum during the restrictions presented by the national ‘lockdown’.
By mid-March, many of the organisation’s outpatient appointments transitioned into virtual sessions, conducted first via the phone and, by May, transitioning to video calls. The Trust have now conducted almost 25,000 such appointments. The Trust is looking forward to further evaluating the approach with patients and the public.
Similar to Facetime or Skype, virtual consultations and appointments allows both clinician and patient to see one another, and have a video conversation, with the former able to instruct the latter, if necessary, to undertake certain movements as well as observe their general condition. From this, colleagues at the Trust are able to offer medical advice and diagnosis, as well as also recommend if a follow-up visit to clinic is required.
Working with Healthwatch Doncaster, colleagues at DBTH want to find out more about patients’ experience when accessing health services virtually, what the hospitals can do better and what things they would like to see in the future.
Rebecca Joyce, Chief Operating Officer at DBTH, said: “If you have undertaken a virtual consultation or appointment at the Trust, please take a few minutes to let us know your views. There are only 15 questions and your feedback will help us to develop and shape future services provided by our hospitals.”
All responses are anonymous and the survey can be completed by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/digitalappointments
Alternatively, if you would like to talk to Healthwatch Doncaster to share more details about your experience please contact the organisation by email: info@healthwatchdoncaster.org.uk