What is telehealth?

In the future, a telecare service will be able to offer you more. Already there are schemes in some parts of the UK where hospitals and GPs use telecare to monitor the wellbeing of patients without those patients having to travel to surgeries and hospitals for regular check ups. This form of telecare is known as telehealth — and it is used to help ensure that people stay safe and well.

A telehealth service allows patients to monitor their blood pressure or blood sugar levels, for example, from the comfort of their own homes. The readings are then analysed by trained clinicians who are able to spot changes in a patient’s condition—and take action if necessary.

One of the main benefits for people who have long term conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or diabetes is that telehealth removes the need to attend hospital clinics for routine tests. When patients are involved in a telehealth scheme, they also play a part in managing their illness and health generally.