The Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care Technology Enabled Care Programme has announced that the Near Me platform has been used for the millionth time.
Originally used to connect people on island and in rural communities, the outbreak of COVID-19 has accelerated its use across the country.
Margaret Whoriskey, Head of Technology Enabled Care and Digital Healthcare Innovation, said:
“To have recorded one million Near Me consultations in such a relatively short period is quite remarkable. Throughout the country healthcare professionals have come to value Near Me as a useful and easy-to-use means of communication and passing the one million mark shows that many patients and clients are also comfortable with video consultation."
The scaling up of video calling is a national priority and Iriss has been pleased to be working with NHS Near Me and the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme to embed the use of Near Me in social services in Scotland.
To date, we've supported five services to trial the use of Near Me in their practice through an intensive Quality Improvement (QI) cycle, including: West Lothian Criminal and Youth Justice team; East Lothian Duty and Response Team; Fife Council Children and Families Disability Social Work; Wheatley Group - Fullarton Service; and Angus HSCP.
Learning and guidance from this work is available.
