Use of livestreaming in clinical encounters

Your medical practitioner would like to livestream your clinical encounter. Your clinical encounter is a moment of your medical care, and could be your consultation, ward round review, operation, or medical procedure.

Livestreaming allows a two-way, online transmission of real time video and audio between your medical practitioner and people they are teaching for educational purposes.

This leaflet will explain what this means for you. Please read the following information carefully before deciding if you want to take part. You can ask your medical practitioner if you have any questions.

Taking part is your decision. If you choose not to take part, this will not affect your consultation or treatment in any way.

What is the purpose of livestreaming in clinical encounters?

The use of livestreaming in clinical encounters aims to improve the educational experience for learners in healthcare settings.

Learning opportunities can be limited by the available space, visibility, and the number of learners per patient in some settings. Allowing learners to see livestreamed clinical encounters means they can learn important skills from patients and medical practitioners that they might not get the chance to access.

What do I have to do?

After reading this leaflet your medical practitioner will discuss the use of the livestreaming equipment with you. If you are happy for it to be used, they will fill out a written consent form with you.

After this, your medical care will happen as normal, and your medical practitioner will use a portable camera or wear glasses with a camera for the livestreaming.

Depending on what you and your medical practitioner decide, you may also be able to see and speak with the learners on a computer screen. It is up to you and your medical practitioner whether the learners are allowed to ask questions or talk to you and the medical practitioner during your medical care.

Who will be watching my consultation?

Only invited learners can join the livestreaming session. The learners may be of any gender and will be undergraduate students (students who have not yet completed their degree) or postgraduate professionals (individuals who have completed their degree and are receiving further training to enhance their skills). Your medical practitioner will be able to tell you exactly who will be in the session before you agree.

Before they can watch a livestream, learners must go through professionalism training. Learners are bound by strict confidentiality agreements and professional conduct guidelines.

What are the benefits of taking part?

Taking part will help the learning and development of current and future NHS professionals. By gaining more varied experience they will be better prepared for their future work.

What are the disadvantages of taking part?

• Discomfort or Anxiety: Knowing that learners are observing might make you feel uncomfortable. You might not want to discuss sensitive health issues as openly as you normally would.
• Potential Disruptions: While every effort will be made to make sure the clinical encounter runs smoothly, sometimes technical issues (e.g. connectivity issues or equipment malfunctions) may cause brief interruptions.

Will my data be secure?

Learners will be viewing the livestream from a safe location, whether that is at work or their own home.

The livestream is not recorded. Any recording by the learner would be a breach of confidentiality which would lead to an investigation.

The livestream is fully encrypted. This means the information is kept private and protected.

Do I have to take part?

No. Taking part is entirely voluntary. If you choose not to take part, this will not affect your consultation or treatment in any way.

What if I change my mind?

If you change your mind at any point just let your medical practitioner know. They will pause or end the livestream.

How will my data be used/stored?

Your encounter will not be recorded or stored. This means, that once the encounter ends, there will be no way of viewing it again.

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