Telehealthcare "can transform" delivery

Wednesday 11th June 2008

Online Poll:

How will telehealth change healthcare in the future? It will ...

1. free up clinician time
2. effectively join up healthcare services
3. not be worth the effort

Telehealthcare has the potential to radically transform health and social care delivery - and support the UK Government's goal of providing integrated, person-centred care services within the community. This is according to a panel of leading healthcare experts, directors of adult and community services and the Local Government Association.

Speaking at the "Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges" conference in London, leading figures from UK charities, local government, councils and Primary Care Trusts joined telecare and telehealth provider Tunstall to outline how the latest technology is underpinning the Government's health and social care policies designed to support independence, health and well-being.

Telehealthcare brings together telecare and telehealth as a combined solution, and supports the national drive for integration and a more flexible, integrated approach to health and social care delivery within the community setting, keeping people healthy, safe and in control within their own homes, in line with the Putting People First agenda.

The government has signalled a clear commitment to telehealthcare, announcing the launch of its flagship £31million Whole System Demonstrator Programme, which will highlight the potential of using telecare and telehealth solutions to provide more effective, integrated care and support for those with complex health and social care needs.

Jon Lowe, Managing Director of Tunstall said: "Telehealthcare enables social care and healthcare practitioners to deliver more joined up services, enabling clinicians and care providers to prioritise their workload more effectively and ensure best use of resources."

Making telehealthcare an integral part of health and social care delivery gives patients valuable independence and an improved quality of life, as well as promoting increased self care and greater awareness among patients of their condition which is a key factor in improving overall outcomes.

Tunstall