Digital technology is rapidly changing how we provide care, making it easier for you to stay connected with our team and manage your health from the comfort of your home. We are committed to using these modern tools to give you more choice, faster access to information, and a more personalised experience. This policy explains how we use digital services at our practice and how they benefit your care.
Our Digital Approach
Following the Scottish Government’s Digital Health and Care Strategy, we aim to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time. By using secure digital platforms, we can reduce the need for unnecessary travel and help you take a more active role in your own wellbeing.
How We Use Technology to Help You
Digital services are designed to complement, not replace, our traditional face-to-face care. Key services available to you include:
- Online Consultations: You can often contact us via our website to request advice or administrative help. This helps our clinical team direct you to the most appropriate member of staff more quickly.
- Digital Prescriptions: Most prescriptions are now sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy, meaning you do not need to collect a paper form from the surgery.
- Remote Monitoring: For certain conditions, such as high blood pressure, we may use services like Connect Me. This allows you to send your readings directly to us from home, helping us monitor your health without you needing to visit the practice.
Reliable Health Information
We encourage all our patients to use NHS Inform as their first port of call for high-quality, Scottish-specific health information. It features a wide range of tools, including:
- A self-help symptom checker to help you decide if you need to see a doctor.
- The NHS 24 Online app, which helps you find local services and get urgent advice.
- Dedicated resources for mental wellbeing through Mind to Mind.
Your Privacy and Data
Your security is our priority. All digital tools used by the practice meet strict NHS Scotland safety and privacy standards. Your health data is encrypted and handled in accordance with UK data protection laws, ensuring it is only accessible to the professionals involved in your care.
Future Developments
As part of the national rollout of the MyCare.Scot platform (formerly known as the Digital Front Door), patients across Scotland will increasingly be able to view parts of their health records and manage appointments through a single secure app.
Digital technology plays an increasingly important role in addressing the challenges faced by health and care services around the world.