On Tuesday this week (6 December), David Cameron launched “3 Million Lives”, a campaign that aims to enhance the lives of millions of people with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, by accelerating the rollout of telecare and telehealth services across England.
In support of the campaign, the Department of Health has published headline findings from Whole Systems Demonstrator, an extensive trial of telecare and telehealth services delivered to 6,000 people. Findings from the study showed a 45% reduction in mortality rates, 20% reduction in emergency admissions, 15% reduction in A&E visits, 14% reduction in elective admissions and 14% reduction in bed days.
SEHTA has been focused on the telecare and telehealth market for the past three years.
In September 2009, SEHTA established its pioneering International Centre for Excellence in Telecare (ICE-T), a market-led approach to telecare and telehealth. Since its launch, ICE-T has grown to become a dynamic network of more than 1,500 contacts in companies, medicine and academia in the UK and internationally. The initiative has also helped to raise more than £1.5 million for innovative businesses involved in the development and delivery of telecare and telehealth products and services.
“This is a very significant announcement and commitment which we welcome with open arms,” says Dr David Parry, CEO of SEHTA. “Members of the ICE-T have for some time been developing a whole range of innovative products and services that are designed to help people live ways that suit them, their families, and those providing care.
“Our members have also shown how telecare and telehealth can be of significant benefit, not just in terms of assisting people, but helping the NHS and other healthcare providers to achieve greater efficiencies and reduce their costs.
“ICE-T members are ready to help deliver this commitment by government now that the case for telecare and telehealth has been proven through the Whole System Demonstrator.”
Speaking at the launch of the Strategy for UK Life Sciences in London, the Prime Minister, David Cameron, said the aim of the new campaign is to improve three million lives over the next five years. “This is going to make an extraordinary difference to people,” he said. “Diabetics taking their blood sugar levels at home – and having them checked by a nurse. Heart disease patients having their blood pressure and pulse rate checked – without leaving their home.
“This is not just a good healthcare story. It’s going to put us miles ahead of other countries commercially too as part of our plan to make our NHS the driver of innovation in UK life sciences."
To find out more about SEHTA, please visit: www.sehta.co.uk
FACTFILE:
The South East Health Technologies Alliance (SEHTA) is a company limited by guarantee, owned by its 1300 members.
Its mission is to facilitate the profitable and sustainable growth of companies and service providers in health and social care and the health technologies sector – pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices diagnostics and telelcare/telehealth.
SEHTA drives collaboration and provides support services to members from Academia, Business and Care/Clinicians to address UK and international market needs.
ICE-T - International Centre of Excellence in Telecare
http://www.sehta.co.uk/telecare
ICE-T is a special interest group of SEHTA, which has become an international focal point for Telecare and Telehealth. ICE-T is a facilitating, innovative and catalytic organization created to address and develop the business opportunities for Telecare and Telehealth, alongside meeting the needs of national government agendas to provide more efficient and effective health care using new communications technologies.
ICE-T is underpinned by the strength of South East England’s health technology and communications industries, world-renowned universities and innovative care providers.
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