Guys & St Thomas' Trust

A Telemedicine Clinic is a way of using technology to deliver healthcare at a distance. The BBS clinics service at St Thomas' Hospital use the Microsoft Teams platform for video consultations.

Microsoft Teams is a website used to connect clinicians and patients using video. You will need to have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam, and have a good internet connection. It is a good idea to test everything is working before the appointment. 

Your BBS clinics team will discuss the option of having your consultation via video if it is suitable for your care.

St Thomas’ Hospital will send you an appointment notification by text message.

The text message will tell you that you have a video appointment. It will also state the date and time of your appointment.

You will also receive a text message reminder 24 hours before you appointment with a link to join the call. 

A couple of minutes before your appointment is due to start, click on the link in the text message.

This will open up Microsoft Teams. You do not need an account and you do not need to enter any information. 

You might need to wait for your clinicians to join the call and greet you. Please be patient as sometimes they might be late.  

Clinicians from your regular BBS clinic will take part in the clinic.

A clinical nurse specialist and Angela Scudder from BBS UK will also join.

There are a few things you can do to help you prepare for the clinic:

• Weigh yourself before the appointment and make a note of your weight
• If you can, please provide a current blood pressure reading
• Put together a list of your medication
• Make a note of any new health professionals involved in your care
• Make a note of any questions or concerns you may have
• If you would like a family member, friend or carer to attend, please let Angela Scudder know. She will arrange a link to be sent to them. 
• Test that your smartphone, tablet or computer is working and that you have a good internet connection.
• If possible, attend your video appointment in a private room. 

Video calls are secure. Your privacy is protected.

You have your own private video room that only you and authorised clinicians can enter.

A Microsoft Teams video call uses a similar amount of date to other video platforms like FaceTime. 

• Click on the link in your text message a couple of minutes before your video appointment. This will open Microsoft Teams.
• If you are not already logged in to a Microsoft Teams account, you will be asked to type your name.
• Your clinicians will know that you are ready and they will join you as soon as possible.
• If you turn your camera on, the clinicians will be able to see you.
• You will not have to type your responses to any questions.
• At the end of the appointment, the clinician will end the call.

You should try to make sure there is a good internet connection before starting the call, although this cannot always guarantee a perfect connection.

If the connection drops out, try to join the call again by clicking the link in the text message. 

If this doesn't work, your clinicians might try to call your mobile number instead.

No part of the Microsoft Teams online video appointment will be physically recorded or permanently digitally stored.

The medical outcomes of the appointment will be recorded and stored as a permanent part of your patient records held by the hospital. This happens in the same way for face-to-face or telephone appointments.

Some personal information is stored on the phone, tablet or computer that you are using and you need to be aware of this - particularly if you are using a public or shared computer. If you are receiving a video call on a mobile phone this is only as secure as any other phone call on that mobile network.

You will receive a clinic summary letter and a copy will also be sent to your GP and other health professionals involved in your care.

You can contact your BBS UK Patient Liaison Officer, Angela Scudder on 07591 206788.