A debate on telemedicine took place in the House of Commons on 4 May. An extract from Hansard appears below:
"Improving local health care services has the direct consequence of reducing the need for hospitalisation in many cases. That is good news for hospitals and their staff, but even better news for patients, who, given the opportunity to stay at home, can enjoy a much better quality of life. A good example of that is the pilot programme involving patients with chronic illness, which is being conducted by Newcastle City Health NHS Trust in partnership with Newcastle City Council and the Regional Medical Physics Department.
The trial involves the installation of telemedicine monitors in a patient's home, allowing his or her condition to be remotely monitored by a local control centre. Any change in the patient's heartbeat, respiration or temperature can be recorded and monitored. If there is a change, the GP, nurse or other specialist can be notified. So far, the results have been favourable, encouraging the belief that such social alarm monitoring services may in the future provide a realistic alternative to hospitalisation for thousands of people."
Our contribution to this project is being led by Jim Methven and Alan Thompson, Electronics Section at the Freeman Unit.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
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