Care homes in South East London deploy remote diagnostic tech

Care homes across South East London have implemented diagnostic technology that enables GPs to remotely perform clinical examinations.

Residents across 46 care homes in Bromley and Lambeth are set to benefit from the technology provided by Arc Health.

Funded by NHSX as part of the National Innovation Collaborative the initiative will enable those in care homes to access their GP via video call, with GPs then able to provide diagnostic support without the need to visit the patient.

Tara Donnelly, chief digital officer of NHSX, said: “Through the pandemic at NHSX we have been helping trial new technology that allows clinicians to monitor and assess patients’ conditions remotely.

“As part of our Innovation Collaborative, NHSX is delighted to be working in partnership with innovators and teams that are transforming care for thousands of people.

“Patients in South East London will now get remote monitoring that goes a step further, making it quicker and easier for doctors to monitor their chest and heart conditions at home.”

Innovation minister Lord Bethell added: “The pandemic has changed the way patients access healthcare and innovative technology is helping us deliver care to the most vulnerable in the safest and most effective way.

“Residents at these care homes will benefit from this high quality, enhanced remote monitoring, making it faster and easier for clinicians to effectively examine residents and ensuring any problems are picked up and treated rapidly.”

The National Innovation Collaborative brings together NHS organisations, social care and local authorities with the aim of accelerating the deployment of innovative technologies to enable care to be delivered at home.

It was set up in partnership with the Academic Health Science Networks to support frontline teams to identify, implement and evaluate technology.

Dr Zubair Ahmed, chief executive at Arc Health, said: “It is more important than ever to support care home residents by offering timely access to gold-standard clinical care.

“We’re looking forward to working with South East London CCG, and the Lambeth Together and One Bromley borough health and care partnerships, to enable their care home residents to access high quality, timely care at home.”