23.3.20 Remote and Mobile Working
News
Remote Access:
Last week we introduced a new appliance to ensure extra capacity and improved capability of our remote access solution for those using personal devices. We are closely monitoring the situation regarding use and will make improvements and changes as required.
Please see the comms below, with an embedded user guide for further information and support regarding access.
Laptops
We have now redirected our remaining laptop stock. As outlined in the last communication, TPP sites (for which terminal services is not available for clinic system access) have been prioritised, followed by other sites without remote access solutions. Some sites will have received laptops already and deployments will continue this week.
We have also started to receive some additional laptops to bolster our provision; these are being built for deployment w/c 23rd March onward and will be prioritised across HIOW sites taking into consideration devices already available at the practice, other technical solutions, workforce numbers, list size and the impact of COVID-19 to date.
Online consultations
Practices should ensure that an online consultation i.e. e-consult, is available and that all patients who can, are directed to this as a first port of call to access the practice. Practices who require support to instigate or increase their use of online consultations should contact their local CCG team for additional support. CCG’s will be making contact with sites that have not mobilised online consultations to ensure there is a plan to do so as soon as possible. This solution must be enabled by Friday 27th March at the latest.
Video consultations
- Patient Facing Video Consultations
We’re aware a number of practices have the AccuRx video consultation solution in place.
Following discussions this week with the company and national and regional NHS teams, we can formally recommend this is as the video consultation solution to use. It has been assessed and approved from an IG and security perspective by NHSX.
Simply go to https://www.accurx.com/get-chain to install.
The solution includes basic SMS messages and video consultations provided free of charge to practices. You can conduct consultations via your mobile phone, but it is also possible to conduct these via a desktop. There are a number of resources available to support you online (see links below) and there’s a handy chat function with the AccuRx team via their webpage if you need further support.
- https://support.accurx.com/en/collections/2195339-accurx-chain-video-consultations
- https://support.accurx.com/en/articles/3776579-using-accurx-video-consultation-to-help-with-covid-19
- (Help Centre) https://support.accurx.com/en/
- https://support.accurx.com/en/articles/3778850-video-consultations-ig-compliance-and-security
- Video call equipment
We are further preparing for video consultations by working with regional colleagues and our IT support teams to obtain access to webcams, headsets etc. to provide improved access and performance of video consultations where staff might be working from desktops or other personal devices. The laptops we have deployed have inbuilt webcams, microphones and speakers to facilitate use of video consultations.
New NHS messaging platform (with call and video capability) – Microsoft Teams
NHS Digital has announced that NHS organisations will have access to Microsoft Teams (online communication tool) to facilitate instant messaging, audio and video calling to support remote working in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This will be enabled for NHSmail users and is available free of charge for the next three months.
All NHSmail users can visit the support pages for more information and local administrators can manage this on behalf of their wider teams, if you need any support setting this up please liaise with your Practice/IT Manager or contact the IT Helpdesk.
Some useful guides can be accessed here: https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/microsoft-teams-video-training-4f108e54-240b-4351-8084-b1089f0d21d7
Further user guides will soon be made available.
At present this is expected to provide a solution for corporate communication whilst working remotely. See video call equipment above for details on how we working to provide equipment to support you in using remote communication tools.
