Hi-tech health monitor has changed pensioner Michael’s life

Doreen and Michael Howard demonstrate the Telemonitoring NI equipment to Eddie Ritson, programme director of the Centre for Connected Health and Social Care. INLT 04-603-CON

NEW technology that enables a Larne pensioner to be monitored by health professionals without ever leaving his home has been described as a “God send”.

Michael Howard, 71, who has emphysema, used to face the prospect of six weeks in hospital if chest infection symptoms went undetected. He also dreaded sitting in GP waiting rooms where he was at risk of picking up infections from other patients.

The gadget that changed Mr Howard’s life is a remote device for testing vital signs, supplied by the innovative Telemonitoring NI service. The remote monitor allows patients with chronic diseases to test their vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, body weight, temperature, blood glucose and oxygen levels at home on a daily basis.

The ground-breaking hi-tech service launched recently by Health Minister Edwin Poots will benefit 3,500 patients with long-term chronic conditions every year for six years.

Michael, who was diagnosed 15 years ago with emphysema - a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath - monitors his vital signs every weekday morning. The information is monitored centrally and if readings show signs of deterioration to an unacceptable level, Mr Howard’s local healthcare professional is alerted.

“Taking my readings is such a simple process, but one that gives me huge benefits as it is an early-warning system to me and also for the specialist nurses in charge of my care. Without the remote telemonitoring I would be running back and forward to the GPs’ surgery all the time to have things checked out,” he explained.

“Having my signs monitored by a nurse means any changes in my condition are dealt with immediately and this has prevented me from being admitted to hospital – in the past I’ve had to spend six days in hospital any time I’ve been admitted with a chest infection.

“I’ve had emphysema for 15 years and during that time it has been getting progressively worse. I am very breathless, cannot walk very far without gasping for breath and now have to use a stair lift as I can’t walk up stairs without breathing difficulties.”

Michael has been on the Telemonitoring NI scheme for over a month, following a two-and-a-half-year spell on a pilot scheme and he says his life has changed dramatically.

“Telemonitoring is not only reassuring for me, it also gives me more control over managing my own condition and as a result I have less upheaval in my life and I’m less of a cost to the health care system,” he explained.

“I have not been in hospital once since monitoring my own signs and beforehand I would have had at least three hospital stays a year. Each time I was admitted to hospital with a chest infection I would be there for six days on antibiotics. Now, if I feel I’m getting a chest infection, I can check my vital signs and start taking my antibiotics immediately.

“Most importantly, telemontoring gives me peace of mind and one less thing to worry about at my age.”

Although he is seeing less of his GP and hospital staff, the patient says he has never felt more supported by the medical profession. “I have two local nurses who monitor my signs through telemonitoring and I know I can contact them on their mobile if I need to,” he explained.

“If they or I notice a deterioration in my vital signs they will either contact me by telephone or pop round to my house to see me. It is reassuring to know that I can contact a medical person if I need to without having to leave my house.

“I do not want to be going to A&E where I have to sit for hours in a waiting room maybe picking up other infections from other sick people.

“I find it much easier to recover from an infection in my own home and telemonitoring not only allows me to do this, it also gives me a better quality of life.”

Mr Howard’s wife Doreen described the service as a “God send”, adding that telemonitoring has made a massive difference to their lives.

“It can be hard for the person who loves and cares for someone with a long term chronic condition as there is always an element of worry, but with Telemonitoring NI you feel you are not so alone in keeping a watchful eye as someone is looking at my husband’s vital signs once a day.

“It’s great too that we know to approach the two nurses if there is a problem and we feel reassured that they know Michael and his medical history.”

Department of Health funding totalling £18m allowed the Centre for Connected Health and Social Care (CCHSC), part of the Public Health Agency (PHA), to work in partnership with business consortium TF3 to establish Telemonitoring NI. TF3 is delivering the service in partnership with the health and social care trusts.

Eddie Ritson, programme director of CCHSC, said: “The roll-out of Telemonitoring NI represents a significant step towards providing quality care for the growing number of people with heart disease, stroke, some respiratory conditions and diabetes who want to live at home while having their conditions safely managed.

Patients seeking further information about Telemonitoring should contact their healthcare professional.