A West Yorkshire R&D organisation is leading a £1.5m research project to develop a telehealth system that enables patients to receive ‘live’ consultations while at home.
The Advanced Digital Institute (ADI) is working with the Airedale NHS Trust and local technology companies to develop the Tele-health Consultation System: a TV-based video telephony solution that will reduce the need for hospital visits and make the service more personalised and timely.
The pilot system will supply two-way video services for support, health advice and information as well as direct ‘live’ consultations. The research project will develop the technology to provide a highly interactive consultation experience, including cameras with zoom and pan controls and connection to a streaming video server providing information clips.
Video technology company Red Embedded Design is providing the communications equipment, while software company BTL is developing interactive e-learning applications for the service.
John Eaglesham, Chief Executive Officer of ADI, said: “This is an exciting project which will change the way patients receive care in the home whilst also providing numerous economic and social benefits.”
The research project is supported by the UK Technology Strategy Board under its Assisted Living Innovation Platform programme. The system will initially be deployed by Airedale NHS Trust. Once trialled, it could be deployed more widely across the NHS and elsewhere.
Assisted Living team