Telehealth in Dorset

Yesterday I attended a presentation on the launch of a Telehealth scheme across Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth. With speakers from the NHS commissioning staff, commerical provider (Telehealth Solutions) and a GP who has piloted the scheme, it proved to be a fascinating introduction into this new self-management tool for patients with chronic diseases. Although the scheme currently includes COPD and CHF, the equipment and 'pods' can be used for mental disorders and to log the titration of medications for almost any conditions. The morning did highlight to me the importance and invaluable nature of specilaist nurses in managing these long term conditions. On the whole, these telehealth systems can encourage piece of mind for the users - the value of that should not be underestimated. I was also enourmously impressed by the care-pathway and involvement of nurses, that made it very clinically useful and accurate as well as the sheer technological aspects too!