Induction Healthcare Group PLC (AIM:INHC) has shared results from a report on outpatient video consultations by Edge Health for NHS England and NHS Improvement.
The report reviewed 3mln video consultations on Induction’s Attend Anywhere platform between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021, concluding that they delivered a range of benefits to patients and the NHS.
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The report highlights the dramatic increase in video consultations across 171 NHS hospital trusts in England, increasing from 5,000 a month in March 2020 to 340,000 a month a year later.
Video consultations overall saved 4.6mln hours, equivalent to 530 years, inpatient travel and in-hospital waiting times in total over the year, as well as £40mln in patient travel costs and parking charges.
Around 3mln lost work hours were avoided saving the overall economy £108mln in lost productivity, while 14,200 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were avoided due to fewer hospital journeys, 11mln fewer single-use PPE items, such as face masks, were consumed, saving the NHS over £1.1mln.
Fewer visits to the hospitals also meant 1,730 infections were avoided, excluding COVID-19.
“The report is a strong service proof point, providing easy access to data to for new customers and to drive contract renewals,” said Induction’s chief executive James Balmain.
“As can be seen, there are many positive benefits to a wider roll-out of video consultations across secondary care and we look forward to supporting this across the NHS."
Attend Anywhere helps hospitals, health systems and other customers offer video consultations to patients and service users as a normal part of day-to-day clinical activity.