Agree on the criteria for patients suitable for teleclinics (see inclusion and exclusion criteria in Box 2)

Prospectively triage all existing follow-up clinic lists online and stream patients into teleclinics based on the agreed criteria

The administrative team should set up the teleclinic on the electronic patient record (EPR) for record of clinical activity and for coding. Before the clinic, they should notify patients of the date of teleclinics by email, text or phone call, checking the phone number in the EPR against the NHS Spine, which is more accurate. It is essential to be able to contact each patient easily and accurately on the day. Video consultations need to be agreed with the patient in advance, usually by prior telephone call, in case they do not have email and access to the internet. This will become even more important after the easing of restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic when fewer people are confined to home

Each practitioner will need

• a good home internet connection and a trust SIM card if calling from home

• headphone with microphone or speakerphone to allow typing into the EPR during the consultation

• two computer screens for videoconsulting – one to contact and see the patient and the other linked to the EPR and PACS system for X-ray reviews