FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tayside gears up for Digital Health & Care Week

The spread of new digital technologies means that Tayside’s health and care services can work smarter, faster and better. That’s the view of project staff in Angus, Dundee and Perth who are working together to help people manage their own health, and live independently for longer.

During Scotland’s Digital Health & Care Week 2017, the three projects will showcase some of their innovative work.

Angus Health & Social Care Partnership is leading on a simple telehealth system known as Florence, working with NHS Tayside, Dundee Voluntary Action and the Health and Social Care Partnerships in Perth and Kinross and Dundee.

Shona Burge, Home Mobile Health Monitoring Development Manager at the Angus Partnership, said,  “‘Florence’ is a text messaging system that uses supportive, motivational and interactive text messages to help people manage their medical conditions at home or on the move. 

“People have already benefitted from using Flo to both gain and lose weight and help manage their heart condition.  Flo has also helped young mums-to-be to quit smoking and is being trialled within a pain management programme.”

The Tayside projects are using video to spread awareness of Flo through the NHS and social care workforce. Published on NHS Tayside’s YouTube and Facebook sites, clinicians and a patient describe how well Florence works. Videomaker Jimmy Black from Dundee Voluntary Action said, “The video has already had thousands of hits on Facebook and has created plenty of interest.”

In the run up to Digital Health & Care Week, Dundee’s Technology Enabled Care project has been in the community spreading the message about new telehealth and telecare devices. TEC Communications Officer Jimmy Black said, “People already know about the community alarm service, which keeps nearly 6000 people in Dundee safe in their own homes.

“Not so well known are devices which help people care for relatives with dementia. An example is a special watch which has an SOS button, and which reveals the location of a person who has become confused and lost. So part of my job is to talk to community groups about the good things which are coming, and get people thinking about how they can be used to enhance care.”

Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership will launch its Smart Health & Care Strategy during Digital Health & Care Week.

Perth Health & Social Care Partnership will mark Digital Health & Care Week with an open day in the Perth TEC ‘SmartFlat’ in Beechgrove House on Friday, 24 Novebmer from 10.30am to 3pm.

On display will be a wide range of telecare equipment such as pendant alarms, falls monitors, smoke detectors, door contacts and bed sensors that can support individuals to increase their independence and/or stay at home for longer. The telecare equipment provides reassurance to individuals and their family that their wellbeing is constantly monitored and that help will arrive quickly when necessary.

Angus Health & Social Care Partnership is holding a series of information sharing events during Digital Health & Care Week where people can ask questions of expert advisors.

• Tuesday, 21 November in the Co-op Store, The Roods, Kirriemuir, from 9am until 12

• Wednesday, 22 November in B & Q, Arbroath, from 9am until 12     

• Thursday, 23 November in the Co-op Store, Brechin, from 9am until 12

• Friday, 24 November in Morrisons, Arbroath, from 9am until 12

ENDS

Notes to editor: 

• Digital Health & Care Week is an initiative by the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare, working with care and healthcare organisations across Scotland. The high point of the week is the Scottish Digital Health & Social Care Conference at the University of Strathclyde on 22 November, to be introduced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health & Sport, Shona Robison MSP.

• For more information about initiatives in Angus, contact Shona Burge on shonaburge@nhs.net

• More information about Dundee, contact Jimmy Black, TEC Communications Officer, Dundee Voluntary Action on 01382 305702 or 07983706740

• The TEC SmartFlat is located within the Community Alarms Department at Beechgrove House, Perth, PH1 1DL. Members of the public with any questions regarding the SmartFlat Open Day should please call 01738 476262 or 475066, or email TEC@pkc.gov.uk

• The Florence video can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDbLl4Zl2k

Contact:

Gaynyr Dickson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138