Tag Archives: telecare
NHS telehealth will not get national implementation
13 November 2012
Three million people will benefit from telehealth systems.
Remote telehealth monitoring systems are not being rolled out on a national basis and decisions where the technology is used will depend on “robust” business cases, health minister Norman Lamb has said.
The government has promised that three million people will benefit from telehealth systems. Telehealth and telecare services rely on devices which allow doctors to monitor patients from their homes.
The tools are intended to reduce the need for hospital visits and to help the NHS reduce costs in dealing with long term conditions – the largest resource drain on the health service.
Telehealth could reduce emergency admissions and extend life expectancy for patients, Lamb said in answer to a parliamentary question.
Doctors could Skype patients to save time and money.
Online video calling such as Skype could be used for GPs consultations with patients and save the NHS money, legal advisers have said.
By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
4:44PM GMT 12 Nov 2012
Providing doctors are aware of the limitations of the technology and are careful that the video link in secure, video calling could reduce the number of missed GP appointments, a medical legal organisation has said.
Patients in rural areas or those with disabilities could use Skype to talk to their GP ‘face-to-face’ without having to leave their own home, the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland said in advice to doctors.
The organisation provides indemnity insurance and legal advice to members.