Airedale Hospital expands telemedicine service (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

More patients to see a doctor via video link

9:40am Monday 6th June 2011 in Health News By Claire Lomax

Patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, chest disease and heart failure will soon be able to see a hospital consultant in their local community, thanks to video technology.

They will no longer have to travel to Airedale Hospital in Steeton for their regular appointments, as a new telemedicine outpatient service is being developed.

It means patients will be able to discuss their long-term condition with a hospital doctor on screen by video link.

Patients with diabetes living in Grassington will be the first to benefit from the technology and the long-term plan is to develop clinics in other key locations such as Bingley, Keighley, Ilkley and Colne.

The idea is to provide a more convenient service to patients closer to their homes, saving them time and money as they no longer have to travel to hospital.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has been innovative in the provision of remote patient care for more than five years.

Through the use of video technology, the hospital has been providing clinical services to people in their homes, inmates in prisons throughout the country and residents of nursing homes.

Dr Richard Pope, a consultant and director of innovation research and development at Airedale Hospital, said: “As a practising consultant I am really excited about how technologies will help change the way care is delivered in the future and offer better and more personal care to patients.

“I have seen first hand how my diabetic patients can benefit from telemedicine and live independently and safely, whilst effectively managing their health and wellbeing.

• Read the full story in Monday's T&A