£10m NHS telecare fund to boost treatment at home

A £10 MILLION fund to increase the number of people receiving diagnosis and treatment at home will support the roll-out of new technology across Scotland’s NHS, according to the Health Secretary.

Alex Neil says the programme will double the number of people receiving clinical consultations using technology and home health monitoring by 2016. Picture: Ian Georgeson

The investment, announced earlier this year, will be used to fund a substantial expansion across the country of technology-enabled care.

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Alex Neil will tell the Scottish Telehealth and Telecare Conference today that the programme will double the number of people receiving clinical consultations using technology and home health monitoring by 2016.

Speaking ahead of the event, he said: “Telehealth and telecare is here and already working, supporting thousands of people in or close to their home. It can reduce the hospitalisation rate of older people with multiple conditions significantly, and improve outcomes for patients who can find it difficult to travel or those who can self-manage their condition.

“Supporting more people at home and in the community is a key element of this government’s vision for the delivery of future NHS and social care services. Proactively managing a patient’s health in this way can lead to much better outcomes for them, reducing the risk of being hospitalised, and thereby also reducing the pressure on our acute care sectors.

“The £10 million fund will help us double the number of people receiving clinical consultations remotely by 2016 - providing a health service fit for the 21st century.

“This will be done through value for money partnerships that expand home health monitoring, increase the use of video conferencing and build on existing digital platforms that give direct access to advice and help.”

SEE ALSO:

• Telecare can help UK cope with growing issue of the elderly

• Home monitoring of patients will cut the costs of hospital care

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