24.01.13
Lack of skills jeopardises telehealth rollout
The Government’s accelerated telehealth rollout carries several risks, a new report by the Digital Policy Alliance (DPA) warns.
Telehealth is supposed to help up to three million patients and generate £1.2bn savings over five years. But concerns raised in the report include a lack of skills and knowledge of the capabilities and use of telehealth and telecare, and doubt about the professional standards to ensure high quality care.
A key barrier is demonstrating that the organisations bearing the cost of the telecare rollout – GP practices and social services – also receive the financial benefit. Misaligned incentives could seriously damage its chances.
The DPA calls for multi-agency coordination and responsibility to ensure the rollout of telehealth and telecare is a success. It recommends that Government must make a clear policy commitment, define specific measurable objectives, offer guidelines and best practice and develop a national business case for CCGs to use.
Dr Edward Phelps, secretary-general of the DPA said: “The Government should be praised for seeking to reform health services to ensure people can continue to live independently for as long as possible. In the report we make a series of recommendations to help Government avoid the risks identified by experts in the field.
“Government must ensure that health-care professionals are educated properly in the use of these varied technologies and that there are clear best practice guidelines available to them. The Digital Policy Alliance will continue to work with Government to promote digital technologies to deliver public services efficiently and inclusively.”
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