Patients at a Lanarkshire hospital will be able to use new self check-in digital kiosks in the emergency department when the system goes live next month.
The eTriage system will be operational from June 10 in A&E at University Hospital Wishaw – in a bid to slash waiting times and improve patient experience.
eTriage is an easy-to-use but advanced system that allows patients to self-register when they arrive at an emergency department. It supports clinicians by capturing key patient information at the point of arrival, enabling faster assessment and better prioritisation of care.
The data, overseen by clinicians, also provides an additional and continuous ‘safety lens’ on the waiting room.
eTriage is now live at University Hospitals Monklands and Hairmyres. The introduction in Wishaw is the final part of a phased rollout across Lanarkshire. This marks the first implementation of its kind in Scotland, following successful rollouts in several NHS trusts in England and Wales.
Claire Ritchie, interim director of NHS Lanarkshire’s Interface Directorate, said: “The introduction of eTriage is a proactive step to enhance patient experience, prioritising those in most urgent need while minimising unnecessary delays.
“Importantly, this system will support and enhance our existing processes — not replace them — ensuring that emergency care teams have better visibility and coordination.”
Currently, patients check in at reception, wait to be assessed by a triage nurse, and then wait again for medical review.
eTriage provides an additional option that streamlines this process by capturing key information — usually gathered at reception and during triage — from the outset, giving clinicians what they need from the moment the patient checks in.
Ms Ritchie added: “By providing a continuous ‘safety lens’ on the waiting room, eTriage ensures critical cases are identified instantly, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.
“Similar systems have been successfully implemented in England and Wales, with clear improvements in patient flow, safety and clinical oversight.”
To ensure a safe and smooth transition, NHS Lanarkshire is carrying out rigorous testing, staff training, and stakeholder engagement — including with patient representatives.
Data from NHS trusts in England is showing improvements in wait times with the introduction of eTriage systems. Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup has shown patients are now being seen within 15 minutes of arrival, reducing triage time by approximately 3 minutes.
A three-month impact assessment from Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which trialled the same eTriage solution now being implemented in Lanarkshire, also showed promising similar results.
The report by eConsult showed an 11-minute reduction in pre-registration wait times at peak periods, a 14% reduction in nurse triage assessment time, with 100% of surveyed staff reporting improved patient safety, and 82% feeling they could carry out their roles more effectively.