Patients in Huddersfield will be assessed by “virtual nurses”.

The health staff will use video conferencing facilities on their computers, under plans for a technological revolution in community healthcare.

The so called “virtual clinics” are to be launched in Kirklees by community health care provider Locala.

The Batley-based organisation, which provides district health visitors and nurses, says it is rolling out a £12m plan to modernise its services.

And new mums will be some of the first to move online with the launch of virtual well baby clinics.

Health chiefs believe 10% of patients will use the Virtual Clinics in the first year of the five year plan.

Locala says it is already using web-conferencing software in the field, for instance to allow nurses to assess minor injuries using video links from healthcare assistants’ laptops.

A third plan is the use of online questionnaires to assess children with speech and language problems.

Locala chiefs have vowed that face-to-face appointments will continue to be a key part of community healthcare but say their plans aim to cut the amount of time staff spend on the road visiting patients.

They say the move will allow more patients to be seen in a shorter space of time and help shave 20% off telephone bills.

Robert Flack, chief executive of Locala Community Partnerships, said: “This marks a huge change in the way we provide healthcare in the community.

“As a community interest company we have the freedom to make these changes and respond to the needs of the people today rather than sticking to the traditional methods of providing healthcare.

“Mobility and flexibility are critical to our ability to provide a high quality service to our patients.

“The new technology provides our clinicians with the tools to make that happen.”

Locala says other benefits of the IT upgrade will be easier access to patient records and a more streamlined referral process.

Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust has also launched a ‘Tele-medicine’ service for elderly residents at 15 care homes.

The service will allow care home staff to seek advice from nurses in a bid to avoid unnecessary trips to A&E.