Patients in home monitoring trial

NHS Barnsley has been selected to test the "Bosch Telehealth Plus" system on more than 2,500 patients with long-term health conditions.

The first phase of the project will begin in September, involving 150 patients living with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Each day, users will be asked to use a compact monitoring system to send information on factors such as their temperature and blood pressure.

They will also be asked to answer a series of questions about their health and any symptoms they may be experiencing.

This data will be transmitted to a secure Bosch data centre, where it is processed and then forwarded to NHS staff in Barnsley.

Staff can then quickly identify patients who require treatment before their condition becomes acute, avoiding the need to be admitted to hospital

Researchers from Sheffield University will talk to patients to evaluate the success of the first phase of the scheme, before it is rolled out to "a few hundred" more patients in Barnsley with long-term conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 2 diabetes. More than 2,500 patients will then be involved by the time the scheme reaches its third phase.

Margaret Kitching, director of nursing and professions at NHS Barnsley, said: "People living with chronic conditions who are supported with Telehealth are more likely to take control of their own wellbeing, such as stopping smoking, losing weight, taking more exercise and looking after their mental wellbeing.

"It also improves medical care once they access the system, as nurse navigators can assess and direct them to the right services, based on the findings recorded through the Bosch Telehealth Plus system. This overall provides greater efficiency both in time and resources."

The news comes just days after NHS Doncaster said it would be testing a similar system on elderly patients with long-term health conditions. Over the next three years about 180 of the units, which cost 1,500 each, will be installed in the homes of some of Doncaster's most vulnerable patients.

A spokesman for Bosch said the system in Barnsley had been designed to enable patients to be more independent and also cut down on the costs associated with admitting people to hospital.

More than 60,000 people – more than 25 per cent of the population – in Barnsley currently live with chronic illnesses.

Brian Hughes, director of intelligence, innovation and quality at NHS Barnsley, said: "Our partnership with Bosch Healthcare represents a significant commitment to help people deal with the problems that living with a long-term health condition can cause.

"Once the first phase of the project has been undertaken we look forward to being able to roll it out further with our eventual aim to see Barnsley as a leader in the provision of Telehealth navigation."

Bosch is already one of the mainstream providers of healthcare systems in the United States, although in the UK the brand is better known for making items such as power tools and household appliances.

Ulrich Behner, vice-president for technical areas at Robert Bosch Healthcare, said: "Working with NHS Barnsley gives us the best possible launch of our Telehealth campaign as they fully embrace the benefits that patient empowerment can provide.

"We look forward to working with Barnsley PCT and using the Bosch Telehealth system to provide a sustainable and long-term solution for managing patient care."