Digital healthcare project 'making a difference'

Technology is helping doctors visit those most in need and reduce hospital admissions, a charity says.

Family Nursing & Home Care (FNHC) has launched a two-year project called the Graphnet Remote Monitoring Pilot to support patients live "safely and independently at home" in Jersey.

Using digital healthcare provider Luscii, FNHC said people can submit health information which is monitored remotely and checked by healthcare professionals, who can visit patients if the data flags any issues.

Kathryn Kelly, from FNHC, said the project had already "made a difference".

"There's been things we've spotted from a clinical aspect where the data's come through and been able to act on that straight away," Kelly said.

FNHC said the first year of the pilot would focus on frailty before extending to diabetes and wound care in the second.

The scheme has been funded through Impact Jersey's Care Tech Challenge, which had up to £2m available to develop technological solutions for health issues.

Dr Chris Edmond, clinical lead for Impact Jersey, said the core ethos was having people "live their best lives for as long as possible".

Edmond said the project could also take pressure off the island's healthcare system.

"There is a fear around technology and how it's cost-cutting, perhaps," he said.

"But actually, it's allowing us to provide more care more efficiently and allowing people to stay in their homes for longer."

He added while he did not want to "take the humanity out of healthcare", digital tools could be beneficial for the sector.

Edmond said: "We don't want a future where we're chatting to AI or chatbots rather than seeing their doctor as that human connection is really important.

"But AI should allow us to do more and target those connections where they're most needed."

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