Remote stethoscope check-ups keep the vulnerable safe
GPs are using remote stethoscopes to examine patients in care homes, with plans to extend the technology to those who are shielding in their own households.
NHS England has funded the purchase of hand-held devices allowing doctors to listen to patients’ breathing without risking passing on a Covid-19 infection or becoming infected themselves.
The health service is piloting the technology as a way of allowing doctors to safely examine patients in care homes and those judged to be extremely clinically vulnerable who are shielding themselves at home.
One GP surgery in Godalming, Surrey, has set up a “no-touch hub” enabling doctors to examine patients from an adjoining room within the building. The GP and patient can see each other through a window, with the doctor directing the use of the stethoscope.
The devices, which cost up to £500, can transmit a live stream of the sound picked up by the stethoscope, or create an audio file that is sent to the doctor. Nurses at the homes help to carry out the examination, with the GP giving directions over a video link.
David Triska, a GP using the devices at Witley and Milford surgeries in Godalming, said:
“We’ve got two stethoscopes in the primary care network ... one has gone off to care homes, and has been doing the rounds for remote examinations. It’s really promising.”
Dr Triska, who is digital first clinical director at Surrey Heartlands Heartllands Health and Care Partnership, a coalition coalittion of NHS trusts and andd clinical commissioning siioning groups, added: “It is part of the NHS England procurement.
They are looking at how we do the next bit.
“I don’t think I would woould be terribly surprised surprrised if in 12 months time, this is a much more moore common technology.
“Most of NHS England’s drive is how do we do this with care homes, how do we do this with home visiting services? Hub-based stuff is a spin off from that.
“It is going to be an absolute godsend to shielded patients who are at high risk.”