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What is ANIA?

The Accelerated National Innovation Adoption pathway (ANIA) is an initiative focused on fast tracking the adoption of proven technological innovations across NHS Scotland.  

ANIA brings together partners from across NHS Scotland and Scottish Government with complementary capabilities to identify, assess and deliver high impact innovations for deployment at scale, for the benefit of patients across Scotland. 

What is the aim of this programme?

The primary aim is to implement a pathway for image capture in primary care so that images can be safely and securely captured, stored and forwarded as part of a referral to secondary care.

Referrals will be triaged at the vetting stage by dermatology services across all 14 Health Boards in Scotland.  

What is a pass-through app?

A pass-through app refers to an app on your device (e.g. mobile phone) that requires a secure authentication process to access.

The pass-through app will enable images to be captured within with the users own phone but will never store the images on the user's camera roll or cloud.

Images disappear as soon as they are transmitted.  

What devices will be used to capture images

Clinicians will be able to able to use their personal mobile phone to capture images. The app will be available to download via android & iOS app stores. The mobile app requires a version of iOS or Android that is still receiving security updates, currently iOS 15+ / Android 12+. 

Is the app safe for me to download on my personal phone?

Yes, Consultant Connect App activity is stored in an IG-secure cloud and never on your device, meaning it is completely secure and compliant with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

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. This is to comply with the latest data protection regulations.

Will the referral process change

No, referrals will still be made using SCI Gateway. Images will be attached to the SCI Gateway referral using a new attach from National Digital Platform button, this is the same process as attaching from local file systems i.e. Docman.

Who will take the photos?

Primarily the project is focused on capturing images at the point of referral within Primary Care.

We anticipate that there will be a variety of users across practices. We will work with individual Health Boards to understand the requirements of who will be capturing images across Primary Care.  

A multidisciplinary approach has been taken with regards to training and education.  

What training is required to use the image capture app

A national training package has been developed which will include all of the information that you will need.

The training pack will consist of material to support you using the application, taking a triage quality image, troubleshooting and links to ‘how to’ videos, and will be hosted on a page on the TURAS website.

In addition there will be drop in sessions available for clinicians to attend should they wish, details of these will be shared directly with Health Boards in the weeks prior to their launch.

What skills are required to take a quality image, can anyone in the practice do this?  

We anticipate that there will be a variety of users across practices. We will work with individual Health Boards to understand the requirements of who will be capturing images across Primary Care.

We would expect the users taking images to have a good understanding of their mobile device; being able to take a clear and well-lit image.

The user would also have a clear understanding of the importance of consent, patient positioning, safe storage of images and data protection. 

Is patient data safe? 

Patient data is shared securely between primary care practitioner(s) and specialist dermatology services in line with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Images of patient’s skin concerns will never be stored on mobile phone devices in primary care.

Will the pass-through app require the use of a dermatoscope?  

The use of a dermatoscope is not mandatory and not required when using the pass-through app.

Should users have access to, and wish to use, a dermatoscope the procured pass-through app works with any dermatoscope and smartphone/iPod adaptor.  

When will this be available in my Health Board?

The rollout of the new dermatology pathway will begin with early adopting Health Boards in November 2024 with all Health Boards live by March 2025.

The programme team is working with all Health Boards to finalise local launch dates for each Health Board, dates for your Health Board will be communicated directly from the Health Board.