Near Me is a video consulting service that enables people to attend appointments from home or wherever is convenient. 

20,000 consultations take place each week across NHS Scotland. Now Orkney Library in Kirkwall is to be part of a pilot scheme which sees the service extended so that more people can use it.

Vikki Kerr Team Leader, Orkney Library & Archive, explained:

“The strength of this pilot is that it taps into the 500+ strong network of local libraries up and down the country already providing trusted access to the information within the community.

“Here in the library, we are ideally positioned to support people at risk of digital exclusion from health and care services – we provide free public Wi-Fi, have access to private and confidential spaces, offer a safe alternative to home, and have trained staff who can support users with their digital and health literacy needs.

“People using us as a venue for Near Me during the pilot will be able to book a free, confidential safe space that is accessible. Library staff will be on hand to assist people to log on to Near Me and enable them to participate in their video consultations.”

The Near Me public library pilot has been developed through collaboration between the Scottish Library Information Council, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI), local authorities, health and care partnerships and the Scottish Government.

Near Me is a secure form of video consulting approved for use by the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland.

Click on this link to find out more about Near Me: Near Me Video Appointments

It’s hoped the Near Me programme will be ready to launch in Orkney around mid August.

For more information, or to find out how to book a Near Me space, please contact the Orkney Library and Archive at 01856 873166 or by email.

Nick Morrison reported for The Orkney News on his experience of using Near Me in 2020: Remote Consulting with NHS Orkney