Royal Society to investigate ICTs in health

The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, has launched an investigation into how the rapidly developing fields of information and communication technology will impact on health and healthcare.

Professor Peter Wells of Cardiff University, chair of the working group that will conduct the study, said: "The rapid advances we are seeing in the technologies used to communicate and to process information could be harnessed in healthcare to great benefit.

“Being able to monitor the vital signs of patients remotely, for example, could free up the time and resources of doctors and nurses. This would involve technologies both for transmitting information from sensors and then analysing that information so someone was only alerted when action was required.

"However, with any new advances come areas of concern. It is highly likely that huge amounts of data will be produced, so can they be effectively processed to gain sufficient benefits to make monitoring worthwhile? Also, will increasing amounts of data reassure patients, or actually increase levels of worry and concern?"

Professor Wells said: "Our study aims to identify which are the most promising areas for research and where we are most likely to see real benefits over the next ten to fifteen years.”

He added:"There are also the practical issues of introducing these kinds of innovations. We will look at what infrastructure, training and other resources are needed to get the most benefit from any new technologies, while also preventing or minimising the potential for adverse effects."

It is expected that the study’s findings will be of interest to a variety of groups including academics, government policy makers, healthcare professionals and provider organisations.

There is an open call for evidence so the working group invites individuals and organisations with expertise or interest in the topic to make a submission .