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Patients across England will have direct access to specialist care through nhs appBecause dozens of new pilot plans aim to streamline health care and reduce pressure on hospitals.
The initiative, involving 45 pilots from 37 trusts, is estimated to free up 500,000 pilots for the government. hospital appointments Will be fully implemented once annually.
Officials believe allowing patients to self-report important health data, such as blood pressure And oxygen levels, through technology can significantly reduce the pressure on healthcare, especially before winter.
The plans will primarily focus on five key specialisms: ear, nose and throat (ENT), gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, urology and cardiology.
Patients will use the NHS app to complete the necessary forms and questionnaires, eliminating the need to visit hospital in person.
Additionally, individuals with long-term conditions can undergo regular testing locally, with a specialist reviewing the results remotely.
This expansion of remote care coincides with the world’s first NHS trial exploring remote support for motor neurone disease patients.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Patients expect care fit for the 21st century and I am committed to providing it.
“This is a government that puts the NHS and patients first as demonstrated by our record investment in the service.
“Using technology to bring care closer to home frees up hospital appointments for those who really need it and makes life simpler for everyone.
“This is our mission: care that is easy, fast and always within reach.
“Through this and innovative approaches such as NHS Online – which will digitally connect patients to specialist clinicians anywhere in England – we are building a smarter NHS while reducing pressure on busy hospitals and stretched staff.”
A pilot being carried out in Leeds will allow men who have been treated for prostate cancer to provide regular updates to doctors on an NHS app.
Chiara De Biese, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, described the trial as “a really exciting development”.
“The impact that a diagnosis of prostate cancer can have on a man’s psychological and physical health is often underestimated,” he said.
“This shows how the NHS is using technology to enable more personalized support and empower men to tackle this complex disease, a mission we are passionate about at Prostate Cancer UK.”
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust will use the app to reduce missed appointments by enabling patients to outline access needs such as transport or interpreters ahead of time.
Elsewhere, at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, digital pre-appointment questionnaires will be introduced for people with suspected respiratory conditions to speed up initial appointments and reduce the need for unnecessary follow-ups.
Ian Eardley, national clinical director of alternative care at NHS England, said: “The NHS across the country is using the latest technology to ensure people can get the care they need more quickly and easily, and closer to home.
“Remote monitoring enables vital information to be shared more easily and efficiently between patients and their health teams – allowing people to get the help they need without an unnecessary trip to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, an NHS trial on MND will look at the benefits of remotely monitoring and adjusting portable ventilators used by people with the condition.
More than 250 MND patients will be included in this.
Sally Hughes, director of services and partnerships at the MND Association, said: “Enhanced support and digital monitoring will make it easier for people with MND to receive specialist care in the comfort of their own homes – reducing the burden of travel and helping them live better lives for longer.”
The trial will be led by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Sheffield and will involve trusts across England.
Dr. Esther Hobson, Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Lecturer in Neurology at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are making the most of existing technology to make it as easy as possible for NHS staff and their patients to access benefits without additional burden.
“We are particularly interested in the experiences of those who have difficulty accessing NHS care to ensure everyone can benefit.”