Primary Care Wales –
Everything you need to know
Since 2020, across Wales, clinicians have:
Been connected to a specialist in 25 seconds on average
Made more than 200,000 calls for pre-referral/admission advice
Sent more than 25,000 messages
Taken more than 80,000 secure patient images
Getting started with Consultant Connect
You can access the service via:
- The free Consultant Connect App
- Your surgery’s unique Dial-in Number
- Consultant Connect in your browser
Please note: services may vary by locality
Why use Consultant Connect?
There are many benefits of using Consultant Connect including:
- Speak to specialist clinicians for pre-referral advice and guidance over the telephone
- Calls are answered by a rota of specialists in under 25 seconds (Wales average)
- Take IG-secure patient photos on your personal device with a built-in ‘patient consent’ step
- Send secure messages to specialists, attaching images, reports, and files where needed
Sign up & login
You’ll need to use your NHS email address to set up your account. For support setting up your account, watch our short ‘How to sign up’ video above or email us. Once you have created your account, you’ll be able to use the same credentials to download and use the Consultant Connect App or log in to Consultant Connect in your browser.
Please note that only devices running on an Apple operating system (iOS) of 15 and above or an Android operating system of 12 and above will support the Consultant Connect App.
Accessing the service
The quickest way to access the service is via the free Consultant Connect App. You can download the Consultant Connect App by searching ‘Consultant Connect’ on Google Play or the App Store. Once logged into the app, you will see a list of your available Telephone Advice & Guidance specialties. In areas where this is enabled, via the app, you will also have access to Messaging Advice & Guidance and the IG-secure clinical photography feature, PhotoSAF.
Consultant Connect in your browser
Consultant Connect in your browser can be used to make calls via the Desktop Calling feature and send messages.
Consultant Connect in your browser can also be utilised for data collection purposes; you can access all your Consultant Connect activity (calls, photos, messages) and download call recordings.
Simply log in using your credentials for the app or sign up with your NHS email address. Service managers and admin teams can also be granted access to this feature so that they can pull reports.
Accessing your Service Directory
Your Service Directory will show your surgery’s unique Dial-In Number, all available Telephone A&G specialties, and their operating hours. To access your Service Directory, click the button below and enter your Dial-In Number. If you don’t know your Dial-In Number, please email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk or call us on 01865 261 467.
Safe clinical photography
Clinicians use Consultant Connect via the app to take, store and share photos and files directly to specialist NHS clinicians for pre-referral advice and guidance. Photos are saved to the secure cloud and never stored on phones.
This service is ideal for:
- Remote consultations – access Consultant Connect in your browser to upload and securely share photos taken by patients, or existing files
- Face-to-face consultations – a ‘patient consent’ step is built into the app, removing the need for additional paperwork
- Taking multiple images to record the history/changes to a condition over time
Getting started with Consultant Connect
You can access the service via:
- The free Consultant Connect App
- Your surgery’s unique Dial-in Number
- Consultant Connect in your browser
Please note: services may vary by locality
Why use Consultant Connect?
There are many benefits of using Consultant Connect including:
- Speak to specialist clinicians for pre-referral advice and guidance over the telephone
- Calls are answered by a rota of specialists in under 25 seconds (Wales average)
- Take IG-secure patient photos on your personal device with a built-in ‘patient consent’ step
- Send secure messages to specialists, attaching images, reports, and files where needed
Sign up & login
You’ll need to use your NHS email address to set up your account. For support setting up your account, watch our short ‘How to sign up’ video above or email us. Once you have created your account, you’ll be able to use the same credentials to download and use the Consultant Connect App or log in to Consultant Connect in your browser.
Please note that only devices running on an Apple operating system (iOS) of 15 and above or an Android operating system of 11 and above will support the Consultant Connect App.
Accessing the service
The quickest way to access the service is via the free Consultant Connect App. You can download the Consultant Connect App by searching ‘Consultant Connect’ on Google Play or the App Store. Once logged into the app, you will see a list of your available Telephone Advice & Guidance specialties. In areas where this is enabled, via the app, you will also have access to Messaging Advice & Guidance and the IG-secure clinical photography feature, PhotoSAF.
Consultant Connect in your browser
Consultant Connect in your browser can be used to make calls via the Desktop Calling feature and send messages.
Consultant Connect in your browser can also be utilised for data collection purposes; you can access all your Consultant Connect activity (calls, photos, messages) and download call recordings.
Simply log in using your credentials for the app or sign up with your NHS email address. Service managers and admin teams can also be granted access to this feature so that they can pull reports.
Accessing your Service Directory
Your Service Directory will show your surgery’s unique Dial-In Number, all available Telephone A&G specialties, and their operating hours. To access your Service Directory, click the button below and enter your Dial-In Number. If you don’t know your Dial-In Number, please email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk or call us on 01865 261 467.
Safe clinical photography
Clinicians use Consultant Connect via the app to take, store and share photos and files directly to specialist NHS clinicians for pre-referral advice and guidance. Photos are saved to the secure cloud and never stored on phones.
This service is ideal for:
- Remote consultations – access Consultant Connect in your browser to upload and securely share photos taken by patients, or existing files
- Face-to-face consultations – a ‘patient consent’ step is built into the app, removing the need for additional paperwork
- Taking multiple images to record the history/changes to a condition over time
Useful Links
Start-up Guide
This short guide will help you enjoy all the features of the Consultant Connect App and browser.
Click the button below to download a copy.
How to guides
View some of our handy video guides on getting started and how to get the most from your access
FAQs
Here are some of our most common questions.
If you have any additional questions or need service support, please call us on 01865 261 467 or email hello@consultantconnect.org.uk
Meet your team
Each NHS area is assigned a dedicated Account Manager who can provide bespoke service demonstrations and Q&A sessions, as well as curating tailored communication and engagement strategies to raise awareness and encourage uptake of the service.
The team also provide regular reports and insights, reviewing and refining the project strategy based on these insights and gathering feedback through surveys and case studies.
Have you got a question or just want to meet your Account Manager?
Simply complete the form and we will be in touch shortly!
Wales Primary Care - Meet the team
Get rapid access to Advice & Guidance from a range of specialties through a single number or via the app
Send secure messages and / or share photos with specialists all within our app
Get pre-referral advice from specialists before creating referrals
Take IG-secure clinical photos
Do more with Consultant Connect
Reports in your browser
Accessing Consultant Connect in your browser allows you to view your Consultant Connect activity (calls, photos, messages*). Often practice managers and admin staff are granted access, so they can review practice-wide usage of the service and download relevant reports.
(*services available will differ by hospital and/or locality)
Access call logs and recordings
Accessing Consultant Connect in your browser allows you to view your Consultant Connect activity (calls, photos, messages). Clinicians usually prefer their practice managers and admin staff to have access to this so they can examine and download PID reports as needed.
To find out more on how to do this please read our Wales Primary Care User guide here
Desktop calling
The Desktop Calling feature on Consultant Connect in your browser enables you to securely place rapid Advice & Guidance (A&G) calls to specialists from your computer.
Simply log in to Consultant Connect in your browser using your credentials for the app or sign up using your NHS email address. After clicking the ‘Calls’ menu item, and the ‘New Call’ button you’ll be able to select the relevant specialty team to connect with a specialist from your computer.
Drop-In Sessions
Join one of our friendly drop-in sessions where you can learn more about the service and ask us any questions.
Do more with Consultant Connect
Reports in your browser
Accessing Consultant Connect in your browser allows you to view your Consultant Connect activity (calls, photos, messages*). Often practice managers and admin staff are granted access, so they can review practice-wide usage of the service and download relevant reports.
(*services available will differ by hospital and/or locality)
Access call logs and recordings
Accessing Consultant Connect in your browser allows you to view your Consultant Connect activity (calls, photos, messages). Clinicians usually prefer their practice managers and admin staff to have access to this so they can examine and download PID reports as needed.
To find out more on how to do this please read our Wales Primary Care User guide here
Desktop calling
The Desktop Calling feature on Consultant Connect in your browser enables you to securely place rapid Advice & Guidance (A&G) calls to specialists from your computer.
Simply log in to Consultant Connect in your browser using your credentials for the app or sign up using your NHS email address. After clicking the ‘Calls’ menu item, and the ‘New Call’ button you’ll be able to select the relevant specialty team to connect with a specialist from your computer.
Drop-In Sessions
Join one of our friendly drop-in sessions where you can learn more about the service and ask us any questions.
Consultant Connect in practice
How Consultant Connect tech enabled WAST clinicians to avoid hospital visit for vulnerable cancer patient
The Consultant Connect service that is engendering better and quicker communication between Public Health Wales and Primary Care
How accessing Consultant Connect from a computer is supporting clinicians in Powys Teaching Health Board
Medical SDEC advice line expedites patient’s diagnosis for rare disorder in Cardiff and Vale
The Ophthalmology pathways in Hywel Dda that are securing the best patient care in the right setting
The benefits of having access to GP Bypass Numbers in Wales
Perinatal Mental Health advice in Hywel Dda
Service Manager case study: Haematology advice in Swansea Bay
5 minutes with… a Consultant Orthodontist
5 minutes with… a Dental Practitioner
In the press …
More than 18,000 patients avoid unnecessary hospital visits in Wales thanks to Consultant Connect tech
Consultant Connect sees 18,000+ patients avoid unnecessary hospital visits
