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Scotland hospitals deploy digital triage kiosks

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June 26, 2026

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Hospitals in Scotland are introducing digital triage kiosks in hospital emergency departments as part of a broader effort to improve patient flow and speed access to care, according to a FutureScot report. The eTriage system has been launched at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and is scheduled to roll out to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

The initiative is part of the health system's wider "virtual hospital" program, which aims to reduce delays and ensure patients receive treatment in the most appropriate setting.

Upon arrival at an accident and emergency department, patients can use a touchscreen kiosk to check in and answer a series of clinically designed questions about their symptoms. The information is transmitted directly to clinical staff, providing care teams with immediate access to patient details and helping them identify and prioritize the most urgent cases. Health officials say the technology will support faster clinical decision-making and improve the overall efficiency of emergency departments.

The digital triage platform is also intended to help direct some patients to alternative healthcare services when emergency treatment is not required. Depending on their condition, patients may be offered advice, virtual consultations or scheduled appointments through other care channels rather than waiting in the emergency department. Officials said the approach could help reduce overcrowding while ensuring patients receive care more quickly in the appropriate setting.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde emphasized that the kiosks are designed to support, not replace, healthcare staff. Patients who prefer to speak directly with hospital personnel or who are unable to use the technology will continue to have access to traditional registration and assessment processes. Health leaders also noted that the system may enhance patient privacy by allowing sensitive medical information to be entered electronically rather than discussed in busy waiting areas.