Remote monitoring for heart patients in Newham

Newham University Hospital NHS Trust has officially launched a telemedicine service that allows patients to self-monitor their conditions from their homes.

The Service Transformation Redesign and Innovation Project (STRIP) consists of a touch-screen connected to a web server on the NHS site, and allows staff to monitor the vital signs of a patient remotely. The statistics are sent to the Newham Response Centre, and should any abnormalities occur they can be acted upon.

Penelope Haile, director of emergency and elective care at Newham, said: "By working closely with our clients we will be able to provide them with the assistance they need to help them achieve a better quality of life in the community." The service is aimed at those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart disease.

The technology was developed and implemented by Home Telehealth Limited and AMD Telemedicine, and launched in partnership with Newham Assistive Electronic Technology, Newham Network and the North East London Strategic Health Authority.