Web Cam options or ideas.

Boohoo

Hello.
My Dad got a letter from his hospital about an out-patients appointment for his hearing problem that he has had for about 10 years.
His appointment is for Friday 26th March 2021, he got the letter today.
He is in a flap now as he can only have a video call with a doctor or whoever will do that appointment and he has been told not to go the hospital.
When he normally goes there the staff will check he ears for wax or what is inside the ear drum and sometimes they vacuum the stuff out. Sometimes when he has been there they will also do a hearing test.

Last years annual appointment was cancelled due to COVID so he has not seen anybody for about 20 months now and his hearing has got very bad that me/people have to shout at him for him to hear us.

My question is that to do the video call he will need a web cam.
He has a pc upstairs but no web cam.
I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop(7 or more years old) that doesn't have a web cam built in. My partner or me will have to go to his house and try and set this up for his while he is inside the house and we will have to guide him what to do from outside in the garden and talk to him from an open window.

Has anybody got any suggestions on what web cam to get for this video call please. I/he doesn't want to spend much but he may have to another video call with the same hospital for another issue in May but that may change if COVID restrictions are eased.

Also when i/we get the web cam how can we set it up so that it works before we take it to his house. 
I just need advice on the web cam as he has a mobile but not a smart phone and he/we do not have tablet.

Neil_Jones

Yeah, I don't think they "vaccumm" as such   More likely syringe.

Webcams you can get for peanuts.  Or depending on the video call in question use a smart phone, just install Teams/Zoom/Skype/whatever on it and that will double up as webcam and mic.

[Deleted User]

I'd recommend the Logitech C270 or Microsoft HD-3000 for £25 as a basic level webcam for occasional use, has built in mic and 720p video, can pick up at Argos. 

Just plug into the USB 2.0 and clip on top of the monitor easily. You may have to allow webcam in the Windows privacy settings.



If you want to spend more, Logitech 310 for £45 will give better quality in low light or C922 for £95 for 1080p.

For setting up and testing, I assume he will be using Zoom for the calls? If so:

1. Register an account with Zoom
2. Download and install Zoom
3. Do a test call with yourself - you can have Zoom on your phone with your account so you can test it out.

Ask the hospital what they expect him to use for the video call so you can test it in advance.

Boohoo

[Deleted User] said:

I'd recommend the Logitech C270 or Microsoft HD-3000 for £25 as a basic level webcam for occasional use, has built in mic and 720p video, can pick up at Argos. 

Just plug into the USB 2.0 and clip on top of the monitor easily. You may have to allow webcam in the Windows privacy settings.



If you want to spend more, Logitech 310 for £45 will give better quality in low light or C922 for £95 for 1080p.

For setting up and testing, I assume he will be using Zoom for the calls? If so:

1. Register an account with Zoom
2. Download and install Zoom
3. Do a test call with yourself - you can have Zoom on your phone with your account so you can test it out.

Ask the hospital what they expect him to use for the video call so you can test it in advance.

Thank you for this.

It is not a Skype/Zoom video call. The local health/hospital have a secure web address that you have to enter into Chrome web browser and then input a code that came with the letter and then my dad will have to wait for a medical person to join him for the consultation.

mobileron

Just ask them to do a phone call like my hospital does,i have CKD but not seen a consultant for over 12 months.
He can have his ears done by his GP.

Boohoo

mobileron said:

Just ask them to do a phone call like my hospital does,i have CKD but not seen a consultant for over 12 months.
He can have his ears done by his GP.

All hospitals have different way of doing things now due to COVID.
His letter states that he will only be able to do a video call and if he is not able to do that then call a phone number(in the letter he got) to cancel. This number is not his hospital and we has tried to call it and they only take cancellations. We called the ENT phone number from last years appointment and that had a recorded message saying follow what is in your appointment letter and that was all the info given.
His neighbour has ear issues and they talked about his neighbours video appointment which was 2 weeks ago and as it was a video call they cant examine his ears and was told that the hospital will make an appointment for him to see nurse to check/clean his ear and do a audio test but it may take upto 4 months to get the appointment and before he goes for that he will have to have a test for COVID to see if he is ok to see the nurse.

As for seeing his GP about his ears all they say is as he is with a hospital doctor they can write a letter to that doctor/ENT and ask them to see him and he has had about 8 GP appointments in the past year and all have been telephone consults as they are not doing any face to face appointments.

grumpycrab

 he can only have a video call with a doctor or whoever will do that appointment and he has been told not to go the hospital.

Telephone is always an option and recommended in these situations - assuming your Dad has a good ear. And if the hospital disagrees they're lying.

RumRat

Here you go....Buy Microsoft HD-3000 Webcam | Webcams | Argos
Plug and play Webcam...

LeafGreen

Neil_Jones said:

Yeah, I don't think they "vaccumm" as such   More likely syringe.

Micro-suction is generally preferred over syringing these days I believe.

Boohoo

grahamgoo said:

Neil_Jones said:

Yeah, I don't think they "vaccumm" as such   More likely syringe.

Micro-suction is generally preferred over syringing these days I believe.

His ENT clinic have not done any liquid syringing for over 5 years for adults anyway. Not sure about children as different department. His GP surgery did do it in the past but they will only do suction as he was told that liquid syringing takes a lot longer to do and the person has to wait until they get their balance back before they would let them leave.

Boohoo

RumRat said:

Here you go....Buy Microsoft HD-3000 Webcam | Webcams | Argos
Plug and play Webcam...

Thank you RumRat and tallmansix for this link.

My partner picked one up from Argos today as she had a £25 voucher doing nothing.
We will get it set up and have ready for his appointment.

Thank you all for the replies and advice that you have given me.