Industry leaders welcome telehealth plan

Government to install Telecare devices in three million UK homes in attempt to deliver better healthcare at lower cost

Technology leaders have welcomed the Department of Health's plans to install telehealth systems in up to three million UK homes over the next five years, which they say will dramatically improve the care Britons receive while helping to reduce costs.

The deployment of remote medical devices to three million Britons is part of the government's Life Science Strategy, nicknamed 3Million Lives.

The deployment of high-tech medical equipment into people's homes could radically improve healthcare in the UK, said Jon Lindberg, healthcare programme manager at IT trade group Intellect.

Telecare devices could, for example, be used to send the blood sugar readings a diabetes sufferer might obtain using home-testing kits to their local doctors, improving the monitoring of their condition.

“Improving health outcomes for patients is vital and we are committed to giving the NHS staff the tools they need to provide high-quality care for their patients,” said Andrew Lansley, health secretary.

The technology to support telemedicine systems was already proven, said Lindberg, whether it was smartphone apps to record blood sugars, or communication systems to link people's homes with their healthcare provider.

“But much of the telemedicine equipment is likely to go in the homes of the elderly, who may not have an internet connection or a home PC,” said Lindberg. “You have to think about what they will be confident using.”

The main challenge to the 3Million Lives programme would be getting social and healthcare providers to change their working practices, if the potential cost-savings were to be realised, said Lindberg.