Patients to benefit from cutting-edge NHS care from their own homes
Rollout comes as NHS launches world-first trial to support motor neuron disease remotely
People in Dorset are set to benefit from new NHS technology that brings care directly into their homes.
The new pilot scheme will use remote monitoring and self-reporting tools through the NHS App to help patients share updates on their health directly with specialists.
Dorset is among the first places to join this national push, which includes trials to support people living with motor neuron disease at home.
The NHS is also launching a world-first clinical trial to support people living with motor neuron disease (MND) using remote monitoring tech, helping them to access breathing support from home. Patients with MND can suffer with symptoms such as difficulty with movement, speaking, swallowing, and breathing, with the trial seeking to improve quality of life.
The projects will help inform the wider expansion of remote monitoring across all long-term conditions, pledged by the government in its Elective Reform Plan. Once in full flow, remote monitoring is expected to free up around 500,000 appointments every year, so patients can be seen by specialists faster.
Ian Eardley, National Clinical Director for Elective Care at NHS England, said: “Right across the country the NHS is harnessing the latest technology to ensure people can get the care they need more quickly and conveniently, and closer to home.
“Remote monitoring enables vital information to be shared more easily and efficiently between patients and their health teams – allowing people to get the support they need without an unnecessary trip to hospital.”