USE YOUR MOBILE TO CHECK IF YOU’RE ILL, SAY GPS
As Scotland faces doctor shortage crisis...
PATIENTS will treat themselves at home with the help of mobile phones under a radical plan to cut pressure on the NHS. they will monitor their own health with smartphone apps in a bid to use technology to cut the number of appointments with doctors and nurses.
the move is part of a Scottish Government strategy that claims smartphones are ‘the new stethoscope’.
A paper published yesterday sets out the future of NHS care using mobile phones and other technology, which it says will help in ‘reducing costs of health and care services’.
the NHS is trialling the use of mobile phones to allow patients to take their own blood pressure and weight – instead of visiting a clinic.
But in the future, ‘wearable devices’ and mobile apps could also be used
to send information to doctors such as blood pressure, heart rate and daily activity.
Trials are already under way with patients using phones to text nurses and doctors health information, instead of making appointments at their GP surgery.
Patients most likely to be asked to use the service are those with chronic conditions such as heart failure, diabetes and breathing problems, which affect up to two million Scots and place a huge burden on the NHS.
The Scottish Government’s vision is that patients will be ‘empowered to remain at home through the use of technology-enabled care’.
But last night critics warned patients need ‘face-to-face’ contact with medical professionals – regardless of the pressure on the NHS, which has more than a quarter of GP practices reporting a vacancy.
Dr Jean Turner, patron of the Scotland Patients Association, said: ‘Rather than providing more care for patients, it appears they are distancing patients from doctors and nurses.
‘If we had enough staff, we would not have to do this. It is always better to have a check-up with a qualified professional.’
The details have been published in a National Action Plan for Technology Enabled Care, which reveals the Scottish Government wants to expand telehealth dramatically.
It says: ‘Some have described the smartphone as the new stethoscope, the difference being that the patient has one too. We will inform and consider our approach to the use of apps more generally, including the use of wearable devices and user-generated health and wellbeing data.’
One system, piloted by NHS Lanarkshire, is called Flo after Florence Nightingale.
It sees patients being monitored for high blood pressure take their own readings at home, using an electronic monitor, and text them to their nurse. The text system can also be used to carry out home weight checks or provide online therapy for depression.
Patients use their mobile phones to text information to doctors and nurses and would only be asked to make an appointment if the system picked up that their condition was deteriorating. The first three months of the Lanarkshire blood pressure pilot of 115 patients resulted in 415 fewer practice nurse or GP appointments.
Those with depression can log in to an online therapy course which sends texts such as: ‘Don’t forget to do something pleasurable during the week – even if it is an effort.’
Other examples that have already been rolled out in Scotland include home alarms and sensors that allow dementia patients to live at home instead of going into care.
The National Action Plan says: ‘Digital technology offers new and exciting opportunities for transforming the outcomes and experience of our citizens – including patients, service users and carers – as well as transforming the quality and reducing costs of health and care services.
‘Our over-arching aim is to contribute to preventative and personalised care and support for those with care needs and their carers, supporting our citizens to make greater use of technology to manage their own health and wellbeing at home and in the community.’
Scottish Tory health spokesman Donald Cameron said: ‘It’s important the NHS moves with the times and takes advantage of digital advances which can help patients and staff, especially in more remote areas. However, while it’s worth being a world leader on this, the Scottish Government has to be careful not to push it too far. In many cases, there can be no substitute for face-to-face contact. Often, patients need that for reassurance.
‘We cannot hide behind the digital revolution when it comes to unacceptable cuts to local services.’
Scottish Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: ‘This has the potential to take pressure off our frontline staff but only if it is done properly. It needs to be properly integrated within the primary and acute sectors, assist clinicians with how they deliver care and be easy enough to use for people of all backgrounds and ages.
‘It is crucial – at a time when our NHS is facing deep cuts in services and even more pressure is being piled on our under-resourced, undervalued and overworked staff – that this delivers value for money.
‘Unfortunately, the SNP Government does not have a good record on this. We only need to look at the current overspend on NHS 24.’
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘The Scottish Government is committed to improving access to services in the community, including mental health services and reducing waiting times
‘We recognise that familiar technology is an important enabler that can improve access to care, free up capacity within the system and empower greater self-management of individual conditions.’
‘No substitute for face-to-face contact’