Anima Launch Timeline

Lakeside Healthcare at Oundle shares the timeline for the introduction of a new online consultation platform called Anima. 

During the move, from the closure of Doctrin until Anima opens, patients who use Doctrin can contact the practice by calling or visiting in person. The practice will be working thoroughly to complete all patient requests made through Doctrin. Patients with an open request in Doctrin need not take any action; the practice will contact them directly.

Dr. Sabine Lijesen, Non-Executive Director at Lakeside Healthcare at Oundle, said: "A large number of our patients have taken the step to create an Anima account. They are ready to use it once it opens. This means they can contact us online to share information about their symptoms, ask questions, and follow up on their healthcare needs. I strongly urge all patients who can to create their own account."

Anima is already in use in over 170 GP practices and by nearly 489,000 patients across the country. It is a secure and confidential platform that patients can use instead of calling or visiting the practice in person.

It is straightforward to use. Patients can fill out an online form to let the practice know about their symptoms, ask questions, or follow up on something. The practice will use this information to prioritise each online form based on urgency and need, ensuring that patients get the right care at the right time.

Patients can easily track the progress of their online form and receive updates by text message or email. Anima is also user-friendly, especially for patients with hearing difficulties or those whose first language is not English.

While the patient experience may feel a bit different, the overall process with Anima is mostly unchanged compared to Doctrin. Patients will access Anima by clicking on the option on the website, which will replace the Doctrin button.

To use the online form, patients will follow some simple on-screen instructions, answering multiple-choice questions similar to those a doctor might ask during an appointment. The more information a patient can provide, the better the practice can assess symptoms and offer appropriate advice, treatment, or further assessment. If a patient needs to be seen by a clinician or other healthcare professional, then an appointment will be arranged.

Patients who use Doctrin must create a new account with Anima for continued online access to the practice. If patients already have an NHS login, they can use the same details. Otherwise, they can create an account with their email address. All patients are encouraged to create an Anima account before it opens.

To stay informed about the move to Anima, please follow our news section for updates. This webpage provides clear details about how to create an account, its features, and benefits.

Published: Jan 16, 2024