Digital Leadership Awards Finalist

Even before the pandemic started, we needed a solution that would enable its services to offer ad-hoc, unscheduled video consultations to patients, replacing face-to-face consultations where possible. This need was exacerbated by the pandemic, as video consultations would minimise the spread of coronavirus and maintain clinicians’ privacy while working from home.

That is why Content Guru, the STORM provider, developed the STORM LINK On Demand Video Consultation application, which can be launched by any clinician mid-consultation. Where appropriate, patients contacting our NHS 111 services by telephone will be advised that they may be offered a video consultation. The patient will be asked for their explicit consent to proceed if such a consultation is necessary. Both the patient and the clinician have the option to end the video consultation at any time. Should this happen, the telephone call will remain connected. STORM LINK ODVC meets all clinical safety and data protection safeguards required by the NHS and is now used routinely for patient care.

Content Guru, or STORM, has supported HUC for more than five years, enabling our contact centres to service NHS 111 calls, across Hertfordshire, Luton and Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Essex.

While the video consultation project was in development before COVID-19, the global pandemic has made a focus on health and safety more important than ever. Content Guru’s solution has provided peace of mind for both patients and staff at HUC. By reducing the need for face-to-face consultations, the technology implemented has significantly reduced the risk of coronavirus infection for clinicians and patients.

We are proud to be nominated for this award as trailblazers in the healthcare industry, working alongside a well-established telephony provider. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase our achievements during the pandemic and the wonderful work of our colleagues during a challenging time.