Poor broadband speeds and mobile phone coverage is hampering the productivity of an Angus medical centre.
Staff at the Edzell Medical Practice have been forced to ditch text message appointment reminders and improvements to the practice website because of the “generally slow” internet speeds and “patchy nature” of mobile coverage in the area.
The move comes after the health centre’s patient group discussed the situation at a recent meeting and agreed it is having an impact on the practice’s ability to use modern technology to improve its services.
The group deliberated on how the internet and other communications technology could help provide more information to patients and ease the administrative workload of the practice staff.
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said: “It was agreed to review the current content and presentation of the practice website and decide on changes that might encourage its greater use.
“Concerns were raised that the generally slow internet speed throughout the practice catchment area might unfortunately put some potential users off.
“The practice has decided against using text messaging to remind patients of appointments because of the patchy nature of mobile coverage across Edzell and surrounding area.
“The group agreed to review whether there might be scope to obtain small rural grants towards enhancement of the use of communications technology by the practice.”
Angus is one of the worst places in Scotland for mobile phone coverage, with certain areas receiving only basic coverage and some receiving none at all.
Some leading mobile phone providers’ websites also show that a mobile signal is only received when outdoors across large parts of Edzell.
Dr Marc Jacobs said the health centre is working hard to overcome the issues.
“We are going back to letters and phone calls for reminders and will use a combination of both,” he said.
“The text message issue is a relative problem. It’s a service that we have been trying to look into to reach groups of patients with a certain medical condition.
“Coverage is one problem, but the other is that we have the second-highest elderly population in Angus, so not everyone has a mobile phone and the ones that do often don’t have it charged or use it actively.
“We plan to look at the future for the younger generation that will actively use their phones and hopefully get their names and keep them up to date in the records.”
Angus Council recently committed to spending £2 million on fibre broadband coverage, which will aim to provide 93% of the region with high-speed internet.
Brechin and Edzell councillor Mairi Evans said the implementation and use of new technology in hospital and medical services was crucial to improving the way they operate.
She added: “I can completely understand the practice’s frustration and concerns. It is imperative that those living and working in Angus are not disadvantaged because of poor broadband speeds and connectivity this is vital for the new technologies required by medical practices, as well as being absolutely crucial for businesses here.
“We want to encourage people to live, work and do business in Angus, which is why we have committed the extra uplift in funding to try and spread faster connectivity as widely as possible.
“As a rural authority we face more of a challenge when trying to make this happen, but we are committed to achieving it.
“We are also looking to find innovative solutions to connect those most remote parts of the county that the broadband upgrade may not reach.”