The Welsh Government is planning to make video consultations available to all the community and secondary healthcare providers in the country.
It has announced a £2.8 million investment to roll out a system already available to GPs to settings such as outpatients and diabetes clinics, and to community nurses, mental health teams and midwives along with health visitors.
This follows the announcement earlier this month that NHS Wales Video Consulting Service is being rolled out to GPs as part of the response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Welsh Government said the move will help to reduce the spread of the virus in Wales by reducing the number of people attending hospitals or clinics and thereby cutting the risk of it being passed on.
Supplying devices
Health Minister Vaughan Gething also announced the provision of £800,000 to supply carers, care homes and hospices with around 1,000 digital devices for access to medical video consultations, and for people to stay in touch with family during the lockdown.
The investment is being made to support the existing Digital Communities Wales: Digital Confidence, Health and Wellbeing Programme, which provides devices, training and support to public and third sector organisations working with vulnerable people.
Gething commented: “The expansion of the video consultation into community care means that more people can access medical services in a safe environment, reducing the risk for both patients and our dedicated health and care professionals.”
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