The Coronavirus situation has affected us all in so many different ways these past few months. One thing it shouldn’t impact, though, is your ability to get seen and treated if you’re suffering with pain or injury. That’s why we’ve just introduced a new video consultation service for patients.
WHO IS IT FOR?
It’s for everybody. If you’re experiencing a new knee problem and need advice, we can see, diagnose and treat you direct from your home. If you’re an existing patient and would like to follow-up with us, we can connect with you quickly in the same way. Getting medical appointments hasn’t always been easy recently – and, quite rightly, nobody wants to be an unnecessary burden on GPs or A&E departments – so we want to be available to anyone who needs help.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
It’s actually surprisingly straightforward! Here’s how we do it…
1. Choose your platform
Decide how you’d like to connect with us. We can do video appointments using Microsoft Teams or Skype (it’s free to sign up, if you don’t already have an account). If you’re an Apple user, we can also connect with you on FaceTime.
2. Book an appointment
Call the team on 01962 826107 (or fill out a quick online form) and tell them you’d like a video appointment with Mr Bailey. We’ll find a time to suit you, and note your mobile number and Teams or Skype address. If you already have x-ray or MRI scans, we can arrange for them to be forwarded to us before the consultation.
3. Describe the problem
Once connected, Mr Bailey will ask you some questions about the injury. If it’s a new issue, we’ll want to know about the history of your injury and the symptoms you’ve been experiencing – when pain or swelling occurs, what happens when you’re active or inactive, and so on.
4. Do a visual check
It will probably be helpful for us to see your knee during the consultation. This can enable us to make a diagnosis, or to assess wounds for infection or delayed healing. Position your webcam at a comfortable angle and make sure you’re wearing shorts or trousers that roll up above the knee. You may also want to demonstrate activities that are particularly painful: for instance, a golf swing or tennis serve.
5. Set up a plan
The next step is to create a treatment plan. Depending on your injury, this might be a course of painkillers (we can write a prescription immediately and email it to you or your pharmacy) or some physiotherapy. If you need urgent treatment, we can arrange a face-to-face follow-up. We can also arrange for you to have specific x-rays or an MRI scan if we think the problem needs further investigation.
CAN I SPEAK TO YOU BY PHONE INSTEAD?
Absolutely. A phone consultation doesn’t allow us to do a visual diagnosis, obviously, but we can still talk through your symptoms and advise you on treatment. You can also email any pictures or scans of your knee ahead of time so that we can review them with you on the phone.
If you have any questions about video or phone consultations – or if you’re keen to book one now – don’t hesitate to get in touch. Drop us a line on 01962 826107, or pop your details into the contacts box on our website. We’ll be very happy to help.
