Patients want to know who they're meeting. A short video tells them.
A minute of you explaining what you do builds more trust than a page of text. Here is how to make one without a film crew.
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- steps
- 7
- steps
- to start
- 45 minutes
- to start
- scorecard
- Free
- scorecard
The short answer
A one-minute walkthrough of who you are and what happens at a first appointment tells a nervous patient more than a page of text. You can film it on a phone in your consulting room in an hour. Keep it factual, keep patients out of it, and add captions.
What good looks like
Your profile, before and after
Mr Sam Patel, Consultant Orthopaedic surgery
- Improved: One-minute introduction video, captioned
- Improved: A short video for each main condition
Illustrative sample, not a real person or result.
7 steps
Do it yourself: step by step
0 of 7 done
Who you are, what you treat, where you see patients, what happens at a first appointment, and how to book. Read it aloud and cut anything that sounds like an advert.
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Typical cost
- Free
- Who does it
- You
Done when: The script reads aloud in about one minute
Use it now · Step 1
Write your introduction video script
Under a minute when read at a natural pace.
Your message
Hello, I'm James Carter, a consultant ENT surgeon. I help people with sinus problems, hearing loss and snoring. If you come to see me, we talk through your symptoms, I examine you and we agree a plan together. You'll leave knowing what's going on and what your options are. My aim is simple: to help you feel better, and to make sure you understand every step. If you'd like to book an appointment, you'll find the details below. I look forward to meeting you.
Read it through a few times, then talk naturally rather than reading it word for word.
Want your videos planned and scripted?
I'll script your videos and show you how to record them in an afternoon.
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This problem is Solvable.
Copy this script
One-minute introduction video script and shot list
Free to copy, adapt and use. No sign-up.
Script (about 150 words)
Who I am (10 seconds) "Hello, I'm [Name], a consultant [specialty] at [NHS Trust]. I see private patients at [Hospital 1] and [Hospital 2]."
Who I help (15 seconds) "Most of the people I see have [condition 1], [condition 2] or [condition 3]. Many have had symptoms for a while and want a clear answer and a plan."
What happens at a first appointment (20 seconds) "At your first appointment we'll talk through what's been happening, I'll examine you, and we may arrange [scan or test]. You'll leave knowing what I think is going on and what the options are, including whether you need treatment at all."
After the appointment (10 seconds) "I'll write to you and your GP afterwards, usually within [x] days."
How to book (5 seconds) "You can be seen insured or self-pay. To book, call [secretary name] on [phone] or use the button on this page."
Shot list
- Phone on tripod at eye level, landscape
- Facing a window, light on your face
- Plain background, no patient records or screens in shot
- Clip-on microphone attached about 20cm below your chin
- Phone on airplane mode
- Notes taped beside the lens
- Three takes of each section
Compliance check before publishing
- No patient, patient record or identifiable information visible
- No promise of outcomes or comparison with other consultants
- No promotion of a prescription-only medicine
- Captions checked for medical terms
- Any commercial interest declared
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Reading a long script word for word, which looks stiff and runs to three minutes.
- Filming against a bright window so your face is in shadow.
- Using the phone's built-in microphone in an echoing consulting room.
- Patient notes or a screen with patient details visible in the background.
- Uploading to YouTube but never embedding it on the homepage, where patients would actually see it.
Free personal check
Done by Paul Robinson, not software
I'll look at your website and profiles and tell you where a short video would help most
What I need from you
- Your name and specialty
- The town you practise in
- Your website, if you have one
What you get
- Where a patient expects to see or hear you
- An outline for a 150-word script
- Where to publish it first
Within 2 working days
No sign-in, no sales call. I read every request myself and reply on WhatsApp.
Free tools
Check where you stand
Paul Robinson
14 years in UK private healthcare
I solve this one for consultants
Want a hand? I'll look at your situation and tell you the three things I'd tackle first.
A few quick questions, about two minutes. I read every one myself and usually reply the same day.
No sales call unless you ask for one. Just a straight answer from me.
I reply personally, usually the same day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a professional crew?
No. A modern phone, a tripod, a clip-on microphone and good window light are enough for an introduction video.
Can I include a patient testimonial?
Only with written consent, and never present one patient's outcome as typical. It is simpler to leave patients out.
Should it be on YouTube?
YouTube is a free way to host it and add captions. Embed it on your website so patients see it there.
How long should it be?
60 to 90 seconds. Patients want to see and hear you, not a lecture.
Do I need captions?
Yes. Many people watch with the sound off, and captions help patients with hearing loss.
Last reviewed:
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