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Home “telehealth” to put hundreds of patients online

25 February 2009

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Hundreds of online home touchscreens linked to “telehealth” technology are to be installed in the Lothian areas of Scotland.

The £1.6m project will also allow patient records in Glasgow to be sent electronically direct to consulting rooms.

And in Orkney, online scanning is to be introduced to enable patients to be diagnosed remotely, avoiding long journeys to hospital.

A total of 16 projects will share the £1.6m, more than £500,000 of which will come from the NHS`s major IT contractor, the ATOS Origin Alliance.

Says Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon: “Our joint investment in 16 pilot projects will help patients in hospital and at home.

“At the West of Scotland Heart and Lung Centre, for example, they’re replacing cardiac databases with the latest systems to improve patient safety.

“Together with NHS Lothian, we’re also rolling out Scotland’s biggest telehome monitoring system.

“Four hundred people living with conditions like heart failure or chronic lung disease will have touch screens to monitor their vital signs from home, helping them avoid repeated hospital visits.”

Copyright © Press Association 2009

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