Anonymous Video calling capability?
Discussion
My partner is an NHS doctor and they are doing an increasing number of consultations over the phone, or by video link, which is great. However the current setup they have for doing a video call is a company mobile phone based on-site in a consultation room running WhatsApp, so currently she is in the bizarre situation where if she needs to do a video rather than phone call, she has to go into work to do so!
The requirement is for a 1:1 call, between doctor and patient, in which the patient does not gain the ability to call the doctor back using that method. Which has to be super easy for the patient to use, which is where whatsapp comes in as a defeco standard, however you can withhold number it appears, and various fudges for this appear poor from my googling? Security should be on a par with a conventional phone and or wa call..
She has a company laptop and phone (Motorola running android) and can use either.
Daniel
The requirement is for a 1:1 call, between doctor and patient, in which the patient does not gain the ability to call the doctor back using that method. Which has to be super easy for the patient to use, which is where whatsapp comes in as a defeco standard, however you can withhold number it appears, and various fudges for this appear poor from my googling? Security should be on a par with a conventional phone and or wa call..
She has a company laptop and phone (Motorola running android) and can use either.
Daniel
Isnt that something for the NHS themselves to consider?
As you say there are alot of security considerations.
As a doctor cant they have their own business phone with the generic whatsapp account on?
In reality there should be a webpage that people go to on their phone that connects to a doctor with a unique number and the backend server deals with all the encryption and connecting.
As you say there are alot of security considerations.
As a doctor cant they have their own business phone with the generic whatsapp account on?
In reality there should be a webpage that people go to on their phone that connects to a doctor with a unique number and the backend server deals with all the encryption and connecting.
Obviously you are absolutely correct that there should be a well planned logical national approach to this, provided for staff to use in these situations and others. However there isn't, and currently the situation is; phone call, or go into an office in a hospital, full of other staff, to make a video call, which sort of defeats the point of doing it remotely!
She has a 'business' phone as said, but the issue is she uses it for everything else, and doesn't want random inappropriate messages from patients raining in on her, so unless there is a slick way of getting whatsapp to make an anonymous/private/withheld call then shes is going to get bombarded!
Daniel
She has a 'business' phone as said, but the issue is she uses it for everything else, and doesn't want random inappropriate messages from patients raining in on her, so unless there is a slick way of getting whatsapp to make an anonymous/private/withheld call then shes is going to get bombarded!
Daniel
A couple of possibilities:
1) A cheap burner phone from the likes of Tesco with a PAYG SIM in it. Once it's set up with Whatsapp it will run over wi-fi so it doesn't need a lot of data on the plan. The advantage is she can turn it off when not at work.
2) If she has a dual-sim phone install again get a cheap PAYG SIM & install Parallel Spaces on the phone. This enables you to run a second copy of Whatsapp tied to the second SIM. Again you can quit Parallel Spaces or turn the second SIM off to prevent callback.
I'd suggest the burner phone as it keeps contacts separate & you can block callers if you need to.
1) A cheap burner phone from the likes of Tesco with a PAYG SIM in it. Once it's set up with Whatsapp it will run over wi-fi so it doesn't need a lot of data on the plan. The advantage is she can turn it off when not at work.
2) If she has a dual-sim phone install again get a cheap PAYG SIM & install Parallel Spaces on the phone. This enables you to run a second copy of Whatsapp tied to the second SIM. Again you can quit Parallel Spaces or turn the second SIM off to prevent callback.
I'd suggest the burner phone as it keeps contacts separate & you can block callers if you need to.
Whatsapp only needs a real live mobile number for the initial setup .
Use a "burner"/giffgaff/whatever sim to setup the whatsapp account. Once that mobile number is established in Whatsapp .. just use the number in whatever phone you want
( eg: my work mobile is logged into whatsapp with another mobile number which will just blackhole any calls)
Use a "burner"/giffgaff/whatever sim to setup the whatsapp account. Once that mobile number is established in Whatsapp .. just use the number in whatever phone you want
( eg: my work mobile is logged into whatsapp with another mobile number which will just blackhole any calls)
We did consider the burner-sim option, but unless you can turn off all incoming whatapp calls and messages, they will just wa call/msg rather than normal text.
Unless as said you go full second phone, in effect replicating what has been done at work.
As yes, patient would need whatsapp, but presumably that doesn't cause to many issues.
Unless as said you go full second phone, in effect replicating what has been done at work.
As yes, patient would need whatsapp, but presumably that doesn't cause to many issues.
From my local NHS trust:
"In response to COVID-19 the Trust are rolling out virtual clinics where appropriate, some of these being video consultations via the Attend Anywhere platform. The process for a video consultation involves the patient receiving a link with the URL to the virtual clinic."
ETA: https://www.attendanywhere.com
"In response to COVID-19 the Trust are rolling out virtual clinics where appropriate, some of these being video consultations via the Attend Anywhere platform. The process for a video consultation involves the patient receiving a link with the URL to the virtual clinic."
ETA: https://www.attendanywhere.com
dhutch said:
We did consider the burner-sim option, but unless you can turn off all incoming whatapp calls and messages, they will just wa call/msg rather than normal text.
Unless as said you go full second phone, in effect replicating what has been done at work.
I don't understand what you're trying to say. Unless as said you go full second phone, in effect replicating what has been done at work.
I'm guessing theres a lot more needed than just the video technology, call logging, accessing records, updating notes, call recording, logging in and authentication of said Doctor.
Given the state of public sector and NHS, I'm thinking it would take months of talks, planning, designing, trialling, early life support etc before eventual BAU.
Given the state of public sector and NHS, I'm thinking it would take months of talks, planning, designing, trialling, early life support etc before eventual BAU.
One of my daughters works for one of these companies that the NHS has palmed some of their mental health services off to and they try and do everything on the cheap.
They started off trying to use Skype for Business and then Skype - I did some testing with her as we use it all the time and it was a nightmare. Then they tried Zoom and now I think they've given up and are just using voice.
They started off trying to use Skype for Business and then Skype - I did some testing with her as we use it all the time and it was a nightmare. Then they tried Zoom and now I think they've given up and are just using voice.
The_Jackal said:
Isnt that something for the NHS themselves to consider?
As you say there are alot of security considerations.
As a doctor cant they have their own business phone with the generic whatsapp account on?
In reality there should be a webpage that people go to on their phone that connects to a doctor with a unique number and the backend server deals with all the encryption and connecting.
Sadly this sort of thing is never approved before it's needed as it's "too costly" or "too complicated", and then when it is needed it's ITs fault that they don't have it (don't ask me how I know)As you say there are alot of security considerations.
As a doctor cant they have their own business phone with the generic whatsapp account on?
In reality there should be a webpage that people go to on their phone that connects to a doctor with a unique number and the backend server deals with all the encryption and connecting.
Mr Pointy said:
dhutch said:
We did consider the burner-sim option, but unless you can turn off all incoming whatapp calls and messages, they will just wa call/msg rather than normal text.
Unless as said you go full second phone, in effect replicating what has been done at work.
I don't understand what you're trying to say. Unless as said you go full second phone, in effect replicating what has been done at work.
Riley Blue said:
From my local NHS trust:
"In response to COVID-19 the Trust are rolling out virtual clinics where appropriate, some of these being video consultations via the Attend Anywhere platform. The process for a video consultation involves the patient receiving a link with the URL to the virtual clinic."
ETA: https://www.attendanywhere.com
Ok, that is interesting, I will look into that. She has asked, but as yet not got anywhere with a from-home solution."In response to COVID-19 the Trust are rolling out virtual clinics where appropriate, some of these being video consultations via the Attend Anywhere platform. The process for a video consultation involves the patient receiving a link with the URL to the virtual clinic."
ETA: https://www.attendanywhere.com
Even just knowing that what she needs to ask is for an 'Attend Anywhere' account to be setup for her might tip the balance!
SeanyD said:
I'm guessing theres a lot more needed than just the video technology, call logging, accessing records, updating notes, call recording, logging in and authentication of said Doctor.....
She has a works laptop, with multi-stage authentication including a card which inserts into the machine to give access to RiO and patient notes/records etc. She works in a CMHT team.AKT said:
She could use WhatsApp for Business and connect this to the practice number - similar to what someone described above but if they wanted to phone then they can still call the practice. You just have to set it up with a phone call rather than a text.
Thanks also.The nhs has been rolling out "attend anywhere" for the last 6-12 months as part of a general idea to keep patients out of hospital for routine clinical reviews etc', with the current push to keep patients out of hospital completely it has been seen as a great idea by management. Its primarily for use as a virtual clinic, the clinician still needs to be on site as its usually on a clinic or office pc which also has access to lab tests and they will have the clinic notes.
I havent used it myself, but from talking to colleagues who have, it's not that great a solution, largely due to IT issues at either end, and issues with patients being able to use the interface and so they have ended up concluding he consult on the phone.
I guess having it set up away from the hospital would need a secure vpn, which may be a stumbling block, unless the work mobile can provide that to the laptop,
I havent used it myself, but from talking to colleagues who have, it's not that great a solution, largely due to IT issues at either end, and issues with patients being able to use the interface and so they have ended up concluding he consult on the phone.
I guess having it set up away from the hospital would need a secure vpn, which may be a stumbling block, unless the work mobile can provide that to the laptop,
sawman said:
The nhs has been rolling out "attend anywhere" for the last 6-12 months as part of a general idea to keep patients out of hospital for routine clinical reviews etc', with the current push to keep patients out of hospital completely it has been seen as a great idea by management. Its primarily for use as a virtual clinic, the clinician still needs to be on site as its usually on a clinic or office pc which also has access to lab tests and they will have the clinic notes.
I haven't used it myself, but from talking to colleagues who have, it's not that great a solution, largely due to IT issues at either end, and issues with patients being able to use the interface and so they have ended up concluding he consult on the phone.
I guess having it set up away from the hospital would need a secure vpn, which may be a stumbling block, unless the work mobile can provide that to the laptop,
Thanks for the information and feedback.I haven't used it myself, but from talking to colleagues who have, it's not that great a solution, largely due to IT issues at either end, and issues with patients being able to use the interface and so they have ended up concluding he consult on the phone.
I guess having it set up away from the hospital would need a secure vpn, which may be a stumbling block, unless the work mobile can provide that to the laptop,
She has an NHS laptop with secure access and vpn. However is currently doing most calls via phone consultations, although occasionally she is also going into the office and or and out to see a patient at home. Same for on-calls, mainly trying to work from home, but sometimes has to do MHA assessments in person.
Daniel
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