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Friday 9th December 2011
Welbeing welcomes news of the government's £180m life sciences strategy
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, this week announced the roll out of telehealth technology that will be funded as part of the government's £180 million life sciences strategy. Telehealth will support three million people with long term health conditions over the next five years.
The news follows in response to the Whole Systems Demonstrator (WSD) programme trial that has proven telehealth is extremely successful at improving service and outcomes for patients, including a 45% reduction in mortality rates. The Department of Health will now implement the programme nationally.
Welbeing (Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline), is the only operator of a telecare response centre based in East Sussex, says the news is fantastic and will make an extraordinary difference to people’s lives. Welbeing already supports 35,000 people in the UK with services that enable people to enjoy independent living in their own home and better manage their long term health.
Managing Director at Welbeing, Mark Bannister, said: “It is fantastic to see such a positive outcome from the WSD project and to receive the Prime Minister’s endorsement. Welbeing was created 6 years ago when local housing, health and social care providers recognised that telecare, telehealth and other assistive technologies would have an important part to play in helping an ageing population lead independent and healthy lifestyles. We have invested heavily in the development and promotion of leading edge solutions and this news is a great boost for the company and our many supporters.”
Stephen Lloyd, MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon said “This is a really positive announcement by the Prime Minister. Wealden & Eastbourne Lifeline is a leading player in the telehealth sector and I will be working very closely with Mark and his team to ensure they have every opportunity to access these funds.”
Telehealth is the diagnosis, assessment and management of a patient's conditions supported by monitoring vital signs, such as blood pressure, weight, glucose levels or pulse, without requiring the individual to leave their front room. The technology monitors vital signs, such as blood pressure, weight, glucose levels and pulse and if the data received falls outside acceptable levels an alarm is triggered which can be immediately responded to by either the response centre or by designated health carers.
Welbeing (Wealden and Eastbourne Lifeline) is an independent not-for-profit supplier of assistive technology solutions - telecare, telehealth and environmental control systems. They employ more than 80 people and serve a wide range of organisations and individuals across the UK.