Telehealth expansion in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton City Council has expanded its provision of telehealth following a trial run in partnership with Wolverhampton PCT.

The pilot, funded by central government’s Preventative Technology Grant, tested the feasibility of introducing telehealth across the city by setting up 40 health monitors and providing training.

The PCT has since paid for a technician’s post which is managed by the council as part of the Telecare team, and employed a project lead to make telehealth an integral part of health and social care.

Future plans include:

· the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust respiratory team running a telehealth trial with the council and PCT
· the Strategic Health Authority employing eight project managers on 12 month contracts to support the PCTs telehealth leads
· participation in the automatic pill dispenser pilot project (see pill dispenser pilot launch story)
· exploring the possibility of a 24 hour response service and creating a joint health and social care city wide telehealth service.

The council is currently piloting with the Night Visiting Service, a telecare response service from 10pm to 7.30am.

For more information contact Helen Rowney, Telecare Co ordinator; telephone: 01902 553666, email: Helen.Rowney@wolverhampton.gov.uk