Videoconferencing technologies in healthcare are increasingly being utilised for a number of applications, including Multi-disciplinary teams, Tele-stroke, remote diagnosis, control of patient flow to hospital and to monitor those with long term conditions, either in their own homes or in care homes.

The main reason for the increase of videoconferencing technology being implemented into clinical environments is to improve the quality of care for the patients and easier access to various healthcare and related services, especially to those patients who may be socially excluded for whatever reason, such as their location, a phobia or a disability, each of these reasons can make the travelling to their healthcare provider a major effort, even if just a short distance.

The benefits to the healthcare provider initially include improvement in waiting times and meeting government targets for treatment, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness along with an improvement of trust and belief in the healthcare system by patients. Cost and timesavings can be realised by reducing and controlling the amount of flow to the hospital, also by eliminating unnecessary visits to A&E or by out patients by a remote videoconferencing link from a doctors clinic to the hospital. Risk of infection can also be limited and the carbon footprint reduced.

With the pressure and the increasing drain on resources within the NHS, videoconferencing poses a legitimate and viable means to offer their clinical care and expertise to the community, without the headache of everyone needing to attend in person, easing congestion and allowing a more controlled working environment and giving everyone the option to receive the same quality and level of healthcare, no matter what their individual situation may be.