Comments on: Virtual wards linking home and hospital http://www.telecareaware.com/taold/2008/28/11/virtual-wards/ Weekly news of remote monitoring technologies for older and disabled people Wed, 23 May 2012 17:54:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Dr. Lance Forbat http://www.telecareaware.com/taold/2008/28/11/virtual-wards/#comment-5439 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:34:16 +0000 http://www.telecareaware.com/taold/2008/28/11/virtual-wards/#comment-5439 I have been impressed by the potential of telehealth in empowering the patient (see my previous articles) and evidence is still needed to convince more PCTs and doctors to use such services. These 3 videos by Medihome are informative and highlight the misconceptions about the motives and value of private services supporting the NHS. Shiela Puckett (Director of Service Improvements and Operations, Stanmore) said "a lot of NHS staff are suspicious of private medicine" and Sue Jeffers (Director of Quality and Healthcare Transformation, Hounslow PCT) "the hospital doctors and consultants were the most difficult to persuade" in taking on new technology but apparently once familiar Hounslow PCT were convinced by its practicality. The consensus I took from from the Telehealth Conferences in Brighton this year was further pilot studies are not going to answer the questions about benefits of telehealth, nor are they likely to overcome the inertia in the take-up of telehealth in the NHS. Maybe some PCTs have taken a 'leap of faith' in going ahead with telehealth. We await the results of the three 'Whole System Demonstrator sites" however I believe PCTs should seriously consider more mainstreaming of telehealth services. As a private provider of telehealth services I have to advise the patients that I benefit from running a telehealth service, but I believe the use of innovative services by independent providers is one way to increase patient choice and should be encouraged by the government. Dr. Lance N. Forbat BSc(Hons).MD.FRCP.FRCP(Glasg). Consultant Cardiologist IHS(Medical)Ltd I have been impressed by the potential of telehealth in empowering the patient (see my previous articles) and evidence is still needed to convince more PCTs and doctors to use such services. These 3 videos by Medihome are informative and highlight the misconceptions about the motives and value of private services supporting the NHS. Shiela Puckett (Director of Service Improvements and Operations, Stanmore) said “a lot of NHS staff are suspicious of private medicine” and Sue Jeffers (Director of Quality and Healthcare Transformation, Hounslow PCT) “the hospital doctors and consultants were the most difficult to persuade” in taking on new technology but apparently once familiar Hounslow PCT were convinced by its practicality.

The consensus I took from from the Telehealth Conferences in Brighton this year was further pilot studies are not going to answer the questions about benefits of telehealth, nor are they likely to overcome the inertia in the take-up of telehealth in the NHS. Maybe some PCTs have taken a ‘leap of faith’ in going ahead with telehealth. We await the results of the three ‘Whole System Demonstrator sites” however I believe PCTs should seriously consider more mainstreaming of telehealth services. As a private provider of telehealth services I have to advise the patients that I benefit from running a telehealth service, but I believe the use of innovative services by independent providers is one way to increase patient choice and should be encouraged by the government.

Dr. Lance N. Forbat BSc(Hons).MD.FRCP.FRCP(Glasg).
Consultant Cardiologist
IHS(Medical)Ltd

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