Induction Healthcare Group PLC (AIM:INHC) said its remote consultation service has launched a new healthcare function which has been rolled out across the UK.
The Induction Attend Anywhere platform now also supports clinical group consultations, where one-to-one consultations take place within a group setting of patients with similar clinical conditions, the company said in a statement.
Restrictions introduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic mean consultants offering digital group consultations have had to rely on conferencing, which could affect privacy.
With clinicians facing a backlog and an estimated 10 million people requiring mental health support over the next three to five years, there is a need for remote group consultations within a clinically safe setting.
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The Induction Attend Anywhere clinical group consultations function, which has been co-created with NHS providers, has been designed to virtually mirror standard clinical and patient workflow, Induction said.
For example, there is a single-entry link for each clinical group consultation “Waiting Area”, which helps safeguard clinician and patient confidentiality. Only the service providers can see callers' names and they have full control to admit, deny or remove individual participants.
The new service offers immediate support to the 300,000 health professionals who already use Induction Attend Anywhere. It is also an important tool in enabling community-based healthcare, a key aim of the NHS Long Term Plan, the company added.
"We are delighted to share the expansion of our Induction Attend Anywhere platform, which enables the NHS to integrate remote clinical group consultations within a secure and private setting,” said James Balmain, CEO of Induction Healthcare.
“This bespoke function will support the NHS to scale-up crucial services like counselling to some of the hardest to reach patients. It will help address the current backlog while transforming healthcare for the longer-term."