Video Group Consultations (VGC) have proved popular across the country enabling patients to discuss their health conditions with around 6 to 8 fellow patients with a similar diagnosis. They also enable patients to discuss their conditions with a clinician for longer than a usual chronic disease appointment, which would normally be scheduled to last around 10-20 minutes. In a group video consultation a clinician will be present for around 60 minutes.
Process
If you would like to attend a Video Group Consultation, the surgery will make contact with a facilitator who will provide you with a copy of the patient agreement. This enables you to give your full consent to what is outlined in the document.
If you consent to the patient agreement, a list of dates for the next VGC relevant to your condition will be provided.
Once a date has been found when you can attend, arrangements will be made for relevant observations to be completed. This is so that the most up-to-date results can be obtained prior to the VGC. As stated in the patient agreement, the results will be shared with the rest of the group during the VGC.
You will receive a link for Microsoft Teams via email. You will need to click on this link at the time outlined by the facilitator. Where possible the surgery will signpost patients to support with technical issues and difficulties.
Everyone participating in the VGC will be asked to confirm their identity by confirming the last 4 digits of their contact number.
At the beginning of the consultation, patients will be encouraged to set ‘group understandings’. These are basically the ‘rules’ agreed at the start of the session, for example what is acceptable to discuss or what should not be disclosed in the group. These will help with the group dynamic. Participants will also be asked to think of any questions they have for the clinician.
The clinician will answer the common questions before having one-to-one consultations with everyone whilst everyone else is on mute and listening. This enables shared learning. The clinician will suggest medication changes, referrals and signpost to other services where appropriate. As outlined in the patient agreement, attendees are asked not to discuss what was mentioned during the VGC outside of the meeting. After the clinician has spoken to everyone individually they will then provide educational content, if applicable.
Lastly, the facilitator will summarise what has been discussed, identify individual goals and update care plans.