Remote healthcare tech could save money and lives

An initiative to promote the use of remote healthcare in the NHS has been welcomed by MPs and experts.

The new plan to implement telehealth and telecare could accelerate after a Department of Health trial showed such schemes can reduce emergency hospital visits and death rates.

There is a real opportunity for increased use of telehealth/telecare to deliver better outcomes for those whose wellbeing is dependent upon health and social care services, and to do this at reduced cost.

The trial found, when used correctly, telehealth and telecare reduced visits to accident and emergency by 15 per cent, as well as delivering a 20 per cent reduction in emergency admissions, a 14 per cent reduction in elective admissions, a 14 per cent reduction in bed days and an eight per cent reduction in tariff costs. Perhaps most strikingly, such technology use could also bring about a 45 per cent reduction in mortality rates.

"With healthcare being one of the biggest costs to the public purse the Government should be congratulated for accelerating the roll out of telehealth and telecare," said EURIM Director and MP for Stevenage Stephen McPartland.

He added that it was essential that technology is used in the most efficient way possible to save money and "ensure high quality patient care is delivered most efficiently."

McPartland warned that in rolling out these services Government must be aware of the difficulties at any early stage to ensure they are ironed out. "This expert group will aim to advise on how to best accelerate the roll out of telehealth and telecare services whilst avoiding some of the pitfalls."

To achieve this level of change the Department of Health is planning to work with industry, the NHS, social care and professional partners as part of a campaign entitled the "Three Million Lives" campaign.

NHS doctor and Member of the Parliamentary Health Select Committee Dr Dan Poulter MP, who is part of the working group along with director of business change at Birmingham City Council, Glyn Evans, said that if the NHS was to provide the best patient care at the best value to the taxpayer it "is essential that we get it right from the outset."

Evans added: "There is a real opportunity for increased use of telehealth/telecare to deliver better outcomes for those whose wellbeing is dependent upon health and social care services, and to do this at reduced cost. But a simplistic approach will not deliver, and the working group will help identify some of the tricky issues and, more importantly, propose how they can be addressed."

The working group will meet for the first time later today.