NHS Lanarkshire’s – New eTriage System at Monklands

Patients and visitors to University Hospital Monklands will now catch the first glimpse of NHS Lanarkshire’s new eTriage system, with digital check-in kiosks installed in the Emergency Department this week.

While the kiosks are now in place, they will not be operational until the end of the month, 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.

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 will first go live at University Hospital Monklands, followed by a phased rollout to University Hospital Wishaw and University Hospital Hairmyres. This marks the first implementation of its kind in Scotland, following successful rollouts in several NHS trusts in England and Wales.

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.

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.