Patients back new home monitoring scheme

Patients with long term conditions in Walsall have given their approval to a new programme using technology to tackle some of the UK’s biggest killer diseases.
The Telehealth project is designed to help patients suffering from long-term conditions including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to manage their own health care plans at home through a telecommunications link to medical professionals.
Patients are supplied with an easy-to-use monitor which captures vital signs information including their blood pressure, pulse and blood oxygen levels. They are also asked to respond to a series of questions which could include, for example, “Have you developed a cough?”
 The information is transmitted to their community matron via a telephone line.
The system helps medical professionals to keep tabs on their patients while reducing the number of visits patients have to make to hospital or GPs.
Among the first people in Walsall to try out the home monitoring equipment are local patients suffering from COPD, the UK’s fifth biggest killer disease commonly caused by smoking. Now, in the first survey of patients’ satisfaction, they have given the project their firm approval.
Patients who responded to the survey unanimously agreed that home monitoring had given them peace of mind and a sense of security.
Nearly nine out of ten patients either agreed or strongly agreed that monitoring had helped them to take prescribed medication more regularly.
Eight out of ten patients strongly agreed that they would recommend the use of the equipment to friends and family.
The results also showed that patients felt home monitoring had made friends and family less anxious and had reduced visits to their GPs.
COPD patient Roger Jones, a retired drilling engineer from Palfry, Walsall, reckons that the home monitoring equipment has helped him to have a new, confident outlook on life.

More than three years ago, Mr Jones was told his condition was terminal.
He said:  “When they told me I was terminally ill, I said to myself ‘I’ll show you’.  I now feel I have the support I need and I’ve won my confidence back.  I have a different outlook to life that I wouldn’t have thought was possible before.”
Mr Jones uses his home monitor to check his pulse rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels three times a week with each session taking around three minutes.
He said:  “I find it very easy to use and would recommend the equipment to anyone who has a similar condition.”
Walsall’s Telehealth programme pulls together the skill and experience of a number of organisations including NHS Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Community Health, West Midlands Strategic Health Authority, Pfizer Health Solutions and Tunstall.   

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Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact Peter W. Mitchell, Senior Communications Manager, NHS Walsall on 01922 619981 or by email at peter.mitchell@walsall.nhs.uk