The results of a new telehealth pilot in Ireland have been launched. Based in County Wexford, the project was undertaken by a multi-agency Stakeholder Group (Wexford County Council-Age Friendly Programme including the Wexford Older People’s Council, Age Friendly Ireland, HSE, Wexford General Hospital). It provided a 12 week telehealth intervention to 50 patients with chronic illnesses including Chronic Heart Disease, COPD & Diabetes. The report’s findings included that the majority of participants perceived that telehealth helped them manage their condition by giving them reassurance that there was clinical oversight and confidence in their ability to manage, as well as identifying when they needed to take health related actions. The project was independently evaluated and monitored by Waterford Institute of Technology and a second phase of the project is now being planned which will see it being expanded across multiple counties.
