TELEHEALTH


THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT SCOTLAND LEADS THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE OPTIMISATION OF TELEHEALTH IN PRIMARY CARE, AND SP REGULARLY FEATURES THE ADVANCES BEING MADE IN THIS AREA. RECENTLY, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE WAS PUT ON THE GLOBAL STAGE FOR ITS TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES.


FROM SINGAPORE TO SCOTLAND…


South Lanarkshire has become the focal point of an international fact- fi nding mission - looking at how the area is pioneering digital health and care.


The visiting deputation from Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) in Singapore met with members of the South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership ehealth team, which has been leading the way in radically changing the way people access health and care services across Lanarkshire.


Innovations here include home and mobile health text monitoring to support people’s health across a wide range of conditions and challenges: from high blood pressure, respiratory disease, diabetes, mental health to weight management, smoking cessation, and family health. To date, almost 5000 people in Lanarkshire have been supported by the technology, which has markedly reduced the need to visit traditional care facilities.


The team also use latest video conferencing to improve connections with people and clinical support. At 20 care homes across Lanarkshire the infrastructure is in place so residents have the opportunity to link into GPs and other health staff for consultations. The technology has also started to be used by some community-based health and social care services to link with people in their own homes.


Dr Ang Yan Hoon, Senior Consultant of KTPH and leader of the fact-fi nding trip, said she and her team were particularly impressed by their day- long stay in South Lanarkshire.


‘The challenges faced in Singapore are 16 - SCOTTISH PHARMACIST


broadly similar to those in Scotland, in terms of people living longer but not necessarily healthier lives,’ said Dr Ang. ‘That places a strain on the acute hospital system with occupancy rates of more than 90 per cent. The objective of our visit was to learn more about how technology can play an important role in the transfer of care from hospital settings to the community.


Dr Ang said that what the team had learned in South Lanarkshire would be used to make a tangible difference 7000 miles away.


‘Within the local and national system in Singapore we are in the early stages of implementing telehealth with various pilot schemes including video conference consultation between geriatricians and care homes. The systems in Scotland/South Lanarkshire are more advanced, have been used for a much longer period of time and the information we’ve gleaned here will be invaluable in refi ning and building our work in this area back in Singapore.’


TELEHEALTH IN ACTION


While they were visiting Scotland, the Singapore delegation met with a retired steelworker, who has been offered cast iron peace of mind by a digital solution to managing his high blood pressure.


Bill Fletcher (67) from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire spent over 40 years working in the Lanarkshire steel industry and now enjoys an active retirement.


The grandfather of four – who is a passionate football fan and photographer – said a recent string of headaches fl agged up something wasn’t quite right . . .


From Singapore to South Lanarkshire, the two teams meet at South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s HQ in Hamilton.


(L-r): Khoo Teck Puat Hospital), Lydia Chin Lee Hoon: Senior Manager, Ageing-in-Place Community Care Team, Khor Hooi Nee : Senior Physiotherapist Rehabilitation Services, Morag Hearty, Lanarkshire Telhealth Manager, Hendra Tendy ; Assistant Manager, Customer Contact Centre, Dr Ang Yan Hoon, Senior Consultant Geriatric Medicine, Chen Lu; Senior Staff Nurse Ageing-in-Place Community Care Team


Front row – Telehealth Assistants Lanarkshire, Lesley Aitken, Janet Finnie and Kerry Fletcher. Pic Bill Fletcher


‘My partner Myra monitors her blood pressure at home and took a reading for me, just to check there wasn’t a problem. It turns out my blood pressure was sky high,’ said Bill. ‘I booked an appointment with my GP and he confi rmed the initial readings. My blood pressure was signifi cantly above the recommended level.


‘Apart from the headaches I’d felt absolutely fi ne - that was the scary thing about it. I had no idea I’d had high blood pressure and the consequences of that, if left unchecked, could have been signifi cant.


‘I was relieved the problem has been identifi ed but my next reaction was, admittedly, a certain amount of trepidation. I’m a very active person and could count with the fi ngers one hand the times I’ve visited the doctor’s in my life.


‘I wondered how this diagnosis – and the requirement for regular checks and appointments – would impact on my lifestyle.’


Thanks to telehealth, however, Bill has been able to maintain his active lifestyle with minimal trips to the surgery. He’s been equipped and taught how to self-monitor his blood pressure and texts his readings from home every day.


A digital system has been specifi cally programmed. If Bill’s readings are outwith prearranged parameters he will be advised of what action to take. Clinicians can also view real-time information about Bill at any time.


‘The high blood pressure is now under control with medication,’ says Bill, ‘and I have the peace of mind that I’m linked in to professionals and supported through the text system.


‘The system itself is so easy to use. And that all lets me get on with the important things in life, from visiting my parents to taking my grandson, Declan, to see our football team, Motherwell! The system is excellent and has made all the difference to me and my family.’ •


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