Patients and visitors to University Hospital Hairmyres will now catch the first glimpse of NHS Lanarkshire’s new eTriage system, with digital check-in kiosks being installed in the Emergency Department this week.
While the kiosks are now in place, they will not be operational until 20 May, as we go through a period of rigorous testing and staff training to ensure a safe and smooth rollout.
In the meantime, all existing check-in and triage processes remain in place, and emergency care continues as normal.
The arrival of the kiosks marks an exciting milestone in the introduction of eTriage – a digital check-in and triage system designed to enhance patient safety and experience in emergency care.
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 Hospital Monklands. The introduction in Hairmyres is part of a phased rollout with University Hospital Wishaw to follow in June. 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.
• By providing continuous clinical oversight of the waiting room, eTriage ensures that critical cases are identified rapidly, enabling faster, data-driven decision-making.
• This marks an important step forward in NHS Lanarkshire’s commitment to modern, patient-centred emergency care.
Stay informed: NHS Lanarkshire will share regular updates across its channels ahead of the rollout, ensuring patients know what to expect. Visit: eTriage Frequently Asked Questions | NHS Lanarkshire
