Airlie Silver Surfers has spearheaded the remote consultation concept. This has been recognised with a national award and has now been hailed by Tory MSP Murdo Fraser for showing what can be achieved — but only if appropriate technologies are in place.
Mr Fraser highlighted the Airlie initiative in a Scottish Parliament debate on clinical portal and telehealth development in the NHS and also pressed for better broadband in rural areas of Perthshire and Angus, where residents are working to build a business case for community provision, and said schemes such as that in Airlie were helping NHS Tayside to progress with the valuable programme.
"The advantages of a clinical portal to improve the treatment of patients are clear," he said. "Health professionals believe there is great benefit of having immediate access to up-to-date patient information and this is especially the case in emergency care situations.
"Telehealth is an area where I have a greater personal interest as I believe there are tremendous benefits to be derived both for the NHS and for patients.
"I would pay tribute to the Airlie Silver Surfers for the work they have done in promoting telehealth and I myself have seen a demonstration by this group in practice. There are real enthusiasts on the ground for this technology.
"Telehealth is a real benefit," he added. "In parts of rural Angus and Perthshire journey times to hospitals or health centres can be long.
"Part of the reason for the concern here is the very long distances to be travelled by local residents to visit a hospital and the journey times particularly in winter can put patients at risk.
"A quality product of telehealth would certainly make a difference and helping alleviate some of the local concerns — but there is one important prerequisite for telehealth use and that is good quality broadband links.
"Over the years I have raised on numerous occasions my concern that rural areas suffer from second-class broadband services compared to those available in urban settings. There has been progress on this issue but much more needs to be done if we are to see an acceptable broadband service in many parts of rural Angus and one that would support telehealth services."
Earlier this year Airlie Silver Surfers won a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of the cyber group which was established in a local kitchen a decade ago.
The group has since gone on to help locals develop their computer skills and establish contact with all corners of the globe, as well as being involved in the health project.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Graham Brown
Quelle/Source: The Courier, 27.09.2010
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