This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Telemedicine top of agenda at government summit
20/05/2005
Ways in which telemedicine and new technology are
revolutionising healthcare in Scotland, particularly in
rural areas, were highlighted at a goverment summit
today.
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Yorkhill Children's
Hospital were praised for their innovative use of new
technology.
Health Minister Andy Kerr addressed senior
representatives at the British-Irish Council (BIC) meeting
on the Isle of Man. He said:
"Scotland has been delighted to work with other members
of the BIC to look at ways to further advance telemedicine
and eHealth systems.
"In rural and remote communities dealing with patient
demand for consultant and expert advice, improving access
to services and providing general medical support are
everyday issues that telemedicine and eHealth services can
address.
"In Scotland we have linked medical staff at the
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary accident and emergency department
to 15 community hospitals across Grampian for rapid advice
on referral and patient management.
"A paediatric videoconferencing system based at Yorkhill
Children's Hospital in Glasgow has been introduced
successfully and is now being rolled out to regional
paediatricians across Scotland. This has led to a number of
other clinical teams in various specialties to express an
interest in using the technology.
"And, as part of our work to tackle hospital associated
infection we have supported a new internet education
service, the first of its kind in the UK, provided by NHS
Education for Scotland for all health workers.
"The potential of telemedicine to modernise the delivery
of healthcare across Scotland and other countries is only
just beginning to be realised. I look forward to continuing
to work with BIC colleagues to develop further systems to
improve the delivery fo services to patients."
The seventh summit meeting of the British Irish Council
was held in the Isle of Man. The British-Irish Council
(BIC) was established under the Good Friday Agreement,
concluded in 1998, to promote the harmonious and mutually
beneficial development of relations between the peoples of
these islands.
The Isle of Man Summit focussed on the area of
telemedicine and its strong potential to modernise the
delivery of health and social care across BIC
administrations.