Government boost for remote health systems

Government proposals to bring remote health monitoring technology into the mainstream will be published in the next two months.

Department of Health (DH) minister Ivan Lewis told a London conference last week that the updated guidance will help social care units use networked sensors in people’s homes to keep the elderly out of institutional care.

There are two main types of telehealth system. Telecare initiatives monitor movement and environmental factors – typically for older people – and relay the data to social care units.

Telemedicine projects use remote clinical technology to allow doctors to monitor vital signs such as breathing rates and blood pressure, cutting hospital admissions for people with chronic conditions.

Telehealth is of growing government interest because of increasing pressure on NHS budgets, the ageing population, and a wider political agenda aimed at devolving health treatment to the public.

The first tranche of an £80m Preventative Technology grant was released last year, with the second available from April. In November DH invited applications to take part in a demonstrator programme, which will run for two years over three areas with a total population of a million people.

Kent County Council has one of the UK’s most advanced telehealth initiatives. The £3.25m programme includes telecare and telemedicine initiatives that have been running since 2004 and 2005 respectively, serving nearly 1,000 local residents.

According to the pilot evaluation published earlier this month, Kent’s telecare project has been well received.

‘It is clear from the feedback that the service has been enormously beneficial and helps people feel more independent,’ said Kent telecare programme manager Clare Skidmore.

‘The initiative is about using technology to find more innovative ways of enabling people to live at home because we want to help people stay out of institutional care,’ she said.

Central government support for telehealth is key to its mainstream adoption. But significant obstacles remain. Key issues include the establishment of clear financial benefits and the closer integration of social care units and the health service.

Strong endorsement from the centre will be crucial, says Ovum analyst Tola Sargeant.

‘To move telecare into the mainstream quickly will require a co-ordinated national effort from both the health service and local social services departments, with clear strategic leadership from the NHS and ring-fenced central funding,’ she said.