Diagnosis by smartphone for NHS patients to reduce pressure on health services
Assistive technology can make a huge difference to both the costs of supporting the vulnerable elderly in rural settings and the quality of people’s lives in rural areas. Daniel Heerey of Cybermoor explained at the RSN conference how we all too often we see superfast broadband as an end rather than a means in rural areas. His work around assistive technology in the context of this story is one powerful example of how we can add value to our local service agenda through assistive technology. The story itself tells us:
All NHS patients will be offered diagnosis by smartphone in a bid to modernise the offer to the public, and lift pressures on ailing services, Jeremy Hunt will say today.
Unveiling a series of pledges to allow the public to access healthcare online, the Health Secretary will say the health service must “embrace the age of the smartphone”.
Under the plans, the 111 service will offer a new service allowing patients to key in their symptoms on their smartphone, and receive instant advice, or a callback from clinical advisers, by the end of next year.
And a central NHS website will allow every person in the country to register with a GP, make appointments, order prescriptions and download their own medical record.
The same site will host new league tables which allow the public to track performance of their local health services online – starting today with ratings for services for diabetes, dementia and learning disabilities.
Every part of the country will receive ratings on a four-point scale from best to worst.