Broadband holds key to healthcare revolution

As Cumbria gears up for the arrival of superfast broadband next year discussion around its benefits has tended to concentrate around the boost it will give to businesses.

Many will also be looking forward to better connections at home for online gaming, downloading HD movies and the like, but it might be that the biggest long term benefits to superfast broadband for Cumbria will be in health services.

There is growing interest nationally about telehealth services which allow patients to have simple check-ups in their home with the results transmitted to doctors and nurses miles away who can monitor their progress.

There has already been a trial in the Carlisle and Eden Valley area for six months where 40 patients with pulmonary disease and heart failure took part in the pilot.

They were each given a unit which took measurements such as blood pressure and meant patients didn't have to travel to hospital for simple tests.

And now Penrith and the Border MP Rory Stewart is pressing for Cumbrian health authorities to explore the full benefit of new technology and superfast broadband.

Top of his wishlist is the immediate establishment of a video-link pilot at Alston

Community Hospital, and he hopes to replicate the technology in pilots across the rest of his constituency, establishing links between communities, care homes and community hospitals, and specialist care and advice at larger hospitals and clinics.

During the last month Mr Stewart has met with NHS Cumbria, the Cumberland Infirmary, the Joint Leagues of Friends of north Cumbria’s community hospitals, and the out-of-hours service Cumbria Health On-Call (CHOC) to appeal for the introduction of pilot tele-health and tele-medicine initiatives in Penrith and the Border.

He has also met with local charities, such as Eden Community Alarms, who are actively promoting tele-care advances to help increase the independence at home of the elderly and ill.

Mr Stewart said: “I am working hard to ensure that our local healthcare providers make the most of new technology to improve delivery in rural areas to each and every person who is vulnerable or isolated due to location, age or ill-health.

“I have been delighted to find that our community hospitals recognise the urgent need for telehealth services in Penrith and the Border, and are doing an amazing job of highlighting the importance of keeping clinical services close to people in rural areas.

“Out-of-hours providers such as CHOC are open to piloting new techniques. A huge number and variety of services, such as stroke monitoring and neurology services, can be delivered with better internet bandwidth.

“Eventually, we should be able to see constituents accessing high-speed advice and care through this method – and even conduct doctor’s appointments in this way.”