Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that as part of the Life Sciences program, 3 million people will be given access to telehealth technology in their homes.  Currently in the UK there are more than 15 million people who suffer from conditions that cannot be cured, but can be managed through medication.  It is these patients who can be remotely monitored by doctors and nurses who will be able to view patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar levels.  These patients take up three quarters of all in-patient bed days, two thirds of all outpatient appointments and more than half of all GP visits, accounting for around 70 per cent of the total spend on health and social care.

In a keynote speech, David Cameron said: “This is going to make an extraordinary difference to people.  Diabetics taking their blood sugar levels at home, and having them checked by a nurse. Heart patients having their blood pressure and pulse rate checked without leaving their home. Dignity, convenience and independence for millions.”

To see some of the many other applications of telemedicine, visit our Healthcare Division pages