Whole Systems Demonstrator to report shortly

The Department of Health funded Whole Systems Demonstrator (WSD) on telehealth is to report shortly. This programme will be the most comprehensive evaluation of telehealth to date, and is expected to herald an un-precidented level of interest in how new technology can support better quality, cost effective patient care.

GGI has already identified telehealth as a seismic shift in how healthcare services will be operated in the future in our recent report on services for patients with a long term condition. The opportunities for patients and the service are manifold, but depend on great clinical engagement and thoughtful implementation at scale in order to achieve the full benefits available. Boards need to up-skill themselves around telehealth, and properly understand many of the new developments that shape current telehealth services. We see telehealth being heavily promoted through the QIPP programme with an emphasis on the potential for cost savings, but encourage boards to understand how good telehealth can transform patients' lives as well as focusing on the possibilities of financial advantage.

Healthcare boards should look to telecare too. In October GGI published a briefing for boards on re-ablement - a key service to help patients maintain an independent life following an acute episode of care. Too often hospitals and other care providers fail patients by delay in discharge, or other factors which means that older patients often miss out on a possible return to independent living in their own homes.

Over the coming twelve months GGI will be helping boards understand how telehealth and telecare can transform their local healthcare services. We will be publishing a briefing for boards on the WSD once it reports, organising a series of high-level briefings around the country on the WSD and developing support for audit committees on assurance around telehealth services. Register for GGI updates on this website to be kept up to date with our 2011/12 programme of support around telehealth.

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