NHS trusts introduce remote heart monitoring technology

North Tees NHS Foundation trust is the latest to implement remote monitoring for heart failure patients, allowing them to manage their condition at home.

A remote monitoring solution for heart failure patients by NHS-owned digital health company Health Call is spreading after its success in County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

The digital solution which supports patients to self-monitor and submit readings on their condition at home will soon be offered to patients across Teesside.  The solution has many benefits including supporting early intervention, providing extra reassurance to patients and reducing unnecessary face to face appointments and home visits.

The solution is currently being used by Community Heart Failure at CDDFT to identify early signs of worsening heart failure in patients to improve health outcomes. If readings are out of the normal range it alerts the Community Heart Failure team to quickly mobilise early intervention with the aim of preventing deterioration in symptoms and potentially reducing avoidable hospital admissions.

Patient are able  to self monitor, submitting vitals at home, with a kit to take their blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, heart rate, and weight which are then submitted into their patient portal for review by their clinical team. This allows clinicians to remotely monitor patient health, ensuring that any deterioration is identified early and preventative action can be taken. North Tees NHS Foundation Trust is the latest trust to adopt this life-saving technology.

North Tees NHS Foundation Trust is in the process of implementing the solution into its Community Heart Failure Team with it expected to go live in the coming weeks.

Trudy Hunt, heart failure specialist lead nurse at North Tees NHS Foundation Trust said: “The introduction of this technology is a fantastic new tool that we can use to both support and monitor people safely in their own homes. The platform will help our community Heart Failure nurses to prioritise and respond to the patients with the most urgent needs.

“It’s great that we can provide patients with treatment and monitoring in their own homes, where they are happy and comfortable.”

Claire Graham, head of customer success at Health Call said: “We are thrilled to see Heart Failure@Home spreading to North Tees NHS Foundation Trust. Sharing innovation so other trusts can benefit from life changing technology is why Health Call was founded and why we continue to work with NHS clinicians to develop new solutions. We look forward to seeing this solution benefits the Heart Failure team and patients across Teesside.”