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Telehealth revolution set to benefit more North Yorkshire patients
NHS North Yorkshire and York today unveiled plans to purchase a further 2,000 Telehealth systems to support patients living with long term health conditions in the area - making it the largest scale Telehealth programme in the UK.
The announcement follows an eight month trial of the revolutionary Telehealth technology which has demonstrated the huge benefits it can bring for both patients and clinicians alike.
The technology involves a Telehealth system being installed in the patient's home which takes readings of their vital signs - such as temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose and oxygen levels - depending on their condition. These readings are then sent directly, via the telephone line, to a central monitoring centre where any abnormalities are flagged and a clinician is alerted to contact the patient.
The main purpose of Telehealth is to identify and act on any deterioration in a patient's condition before it gets to the point they require admission to hospital. It can also be used to help facilitate patients being discharged home early from an acute setting.
David Cockayne, Director of Strategy for NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: "We are delighted to announce this significant investment in Telehealth which we, and local clinicians, believe will continue to make a huge difference for patients living with a long term health condition.
"As outlined in our recently published five-year strategy, we are committed to providing care closer to home and improving the quality of life for patients living with a long term health condition. We recognise Telehealth as being a key enabler to us achieving our aspirations."
Telehealth is targeted at patients living with long-term health conditions including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Chronic Heart Failure and Diabetes. In 2008/09, over 6,000 patients in North Yorkshire and York were admitted to hospital with respiratory or cardiac problems.
Rosie Walker Smith, a Case Manager working in the Hambleton and Richmondshire area of North Yorkshire, has seen the benefits of Telehealth first hand. She added: "Feedback from patients already using Telehealth has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only does it reduce the risk of their condition deteriorating to the point they need hospital treatment, but also gives them the peace of mind that their condition is being monitored.
"It's great that more patients will get to benefit from this technology."
Leading North Yorkshire-based provider of Telehealth, Tunstall, was awarded the contract to provide the additional 2,000 systems following a competitive tender process.
Jon Lowe, UK Managing Director at Tunstall Healthcare said: "We are delighted to be partnering with NHS North Yorkshire and York to reshape the way care is delivered closer to home, using innovative technology to support and sustain care delivery. One thing is clear, patients are at the heart of everything we do and Telehealth can have an immediate and lasting positive impact on patient care and clinical quality. We very much look forward to working with NYY to deliver a whole systems approach to care, allowing clinical teams to unlock the benefits for patients and carers."
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Telehealth at a glance
- Telehealth involves a small, portable electronic unit, roughly the size of a telephone, being installed in a patient's home and connected to the phone line.
- It is programmed to take readings such as blood pressure, blood glucose levels, oxygen levels etc on a daily basis. The readings are sent automatically to a monitoring centre.
- If any abnormalities are flagged in the system, a healthcare professional is alerted and the patient is contacted
- Patients with COPD, Chronic Heart Failure and Diabetes are the main focus of the Telehealth programme in North Yorkshire and York
- Telehealth improves the quality of life for patients and their carers
- Telehealth can reduce the risk of patients requiring a hospital admission
- More information about the Telehealth programme in North Yorkshire and York can be found at: www.northyorkshireandyork.nhs.uk/localservices/telehealth
Patient case study - Pauline Waite, York
When 56 year-old York resident Pauline Waite was diagnosed with Emphysema seven years ago, it made a huge impact on her life. Even simple day-to-day activities such as carrying shopping bags and going for short walks became a struggle. After Pauline was admitted to hospital in October 2009 with pneumonia, she knew she wasn't coping well with her illness.
"I felt like I was the only person in the world suffering from emphysema. I used to panic if I felt ill. I didn't want any more admissions into hospital, so my nurse suggested Telehealth.
"At first I was sceptical. I didn't know anything about it and questioned its reliability. But my nurse was really helpful and explained what Telehealth was and how it would help me.
"The device is so simple and easy to use and the step-by-step instructions are clear and easy to follow. At the moment it takes my blood pressure, oxygen levels and temperature once a day at 10am which only takes five minutes out of my day. If there are any abnormal readings it alerts the clinic and I get a phone call from a nurse at York Hospital the same day.
"Telehealth saved me an admission to hospital between Christmas and New Year, when there was an abnormal reading on Boxing Day and the following two days. I was really grateful as having to go to hospital would have really spoilt my Christmas."
Regaining control
"I was struggling to cope with my illness before Telehealth was fitted, either waking up or going to sleep feeling uneasy or ill.
"Telehealth gives me a sense of reassurance to know somebody is keeping a check on me everyday. It feels like a godsend, I feel much more at ease with the different aspects of coping with my illness.
"If I don't feel quite right I can take measurements at any time in the day and the majority of the time everything is okay. Before the device was fitted I would worry my blood pressure was too high and whether my body could cope with the things I had to do that day. Now I feel I have the confidence to get on with my daily activities without the thought constantly being at the back of my mind."
Advice to others
"I would definitely encourage other patients to get Telehealth. It's literally changed my life. After I was admitted to hospital last year I realised I had to re-evaluate my lifestyle completely and Telehealth has made the whole thing seem much easier and given me the confidence to manage my illness.
"I'm sure that many other patients can benefit from Telehealth just like I have and live a happier and much more comfortable lifestyle."
For further information contact the NHS North Yorkshire and York Communications Team on 01423 859616
All NHS North Yorkshire and York press releases are available on our website http://www.northyorkshireandyork.nhs.uk/
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