Robots And Telecare Mean 21st Century Care
May 24th 2007
Robots and GPS tracking for dementia patients are amongst the hi-tech gadgets making a difference to health care in Britain, according to a survey yesterday. Dozens of innovations have made an impact on different areas of treatment, according to the department of health, which announced it was having a "hi tech healthcare week".
These include the robot drug dispensing system at Charing Cross Hospital. This is credited with reducing dispensing errors from 2.7 per cent to less than one per cent.
And a second robot at the hospital - with a "Star Wars style" arm prepares cancer drugs.
The survey also cites blood transfusion management at the Oxford Radcliffe Hospital. Staff use hand held computers and bar codes ensure patients get the right blood.
The tracking system for dementia patients uses GPs and the web to enable relatives and carers to find missing patients.
At the same time a new programme of telehealth monitoring devices was announced to help people with long-term conditions live at home.
Some £12 million is to be spent in Kent, Newham in London and Cornwall to develop services.
The systems will enable professionals or GP surgeries to check information about blood pressure and blood glucose levels while a patient stays at home.
A second programme of "telecare" sensor devices will install gadgets to detect whether elderly people suffer falls and to help them switch on lights.
Health secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "Improving patient care with new scientific advances and innovation is vital if the NHS is to continue to offer the very best services.
"But new gadgets aren’t just about specialist innovations in hospitals - it is about using innovation at the frontline of the NHS to help patients manage their conditions better themselves."
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