Walsall And Hull Launch Mainstream Deployments Of Telehealth For People With COPD And Congestive Heart Failure, Using Tunstall Genesis Monitors, UK

Main Category: COPD
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 07 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Walsall and Hull have announced the launch of large mainstream deployments of telehealth to monitor people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and congestive heart failure (CHF) in their own homes.

Both Primary Care Trusts are using Genesis monitors from leading telehealth and telecare specialist Tunstall to ensure best use of healthcare resources, reduce COPD and CHF related hospital admissions, support independent living and deliver an improved quality of life for patients.

COPD kills 30,000 people every year in England and Wales alone, making it the fifth biggest killer, and the cost to the NHS of treating COPD is high, at £818 million per annum.

The cost to Walsall PCT for each patient admitted to Accident and Emergency can be as high as £2,300, and it is hoped that the telehealth solutions from Tunstall will prevent hundreds of avoidable admissions. Previous research has shown that use of Genesis monitors can reduce the need for hospitalisation by over 50% and for emergency care visits by nearly two thirds.

Tony Diaram, Project Manager at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council said: "This telehealth project will give patients truly person-centred care, helping them to manage their condition and avoid the constant cycle of hospitalisation. Tunstall Genesis units support greater independence and encourage better self-management of COPD, especially within hard-to-reach communities."

The telehealth programme being run by Hull PCT uses Tunstall Genesis units to let people monitor their weight and blood pressure, enabling daily accurate monitoring without needing the person to visit their GP. Patients' stress levels, which are a contributing factor to the condition, are also reduced, as it keeps them in a comfortable and familiar environment.

Clare Brown, Locality Manager for Hull City council's Community Care services and Telecare Project Lead commented: "Previously, during acute phases of CHF, we would often have to hospitalise patients for long periods to simply monitor their condition, when they were in fact well enough to be at home.

"The Tunstall Genesis monitors allow us to track a patient's condition closely while they remain in their home, which is proven to help their well-being, yet we can still react quickly if their condition worsens. It truly is a win-win situation for both patients and PCT."

http://www.tunstall.co.uk