Shock as survey reveals most UK adults have never heard of telehealth and telecare

As the Government pins its hopes on assistive technologies to help cut the cost of health and social care over the coming years, a worrying survey has revealed that more than 90%of adults have still never heard of telecare or telehealth.

The recent launch of the Department of Health’s 3millionlives campaign puts assistive technologies such as telecare, telehealth and telemedicine systems firmly at the forefront of future care services, helping an ageing population with a growing number of medical conditions to remain living independently for longer.

However, this vision was called into question with the publication, this week, of the results of a YouGov survey, which showed that, of the 2,054 over-18s questioned, a staggering 91% had not heard of telehealth or telecare. Of those aged over 55 years old, who are statistically the most likely to suffer from a long-term health problem and need supportive services, 93% were still in the dark about the role of assistive technologies.

The revelation has prompted the launch of an awareness campaign by the recently-formed Telehealth Forum, which is drawing up guidance laying out how these devices can help.

Patricia Wilkie, president of the National Association for Patient Participation, said: “Paul Burstow MP recently announced that telehealth and telecare could save the NHS £1.2billion over five years, but this will be very difficult to implement if the public don’t even know what it is.

”Our research shows that we still have some way to go in letting people know what telehealth and telecare are, and how these new technologies can improve their lives. This is why we feel that it is so vitally important to be involved with the Telehealth Forum, which will be developing much-needed patient information on telehealth and telecare.”

The news has also come as a shock to providers, who say they are committed to working with trade organisations and the Government to educate members of the public, and health professionals, on the key role technology can have in future services.

Appello provides nurse-led, home-based personal monitoring, advice and support for a monthly pay-as-you-use charge and is set to publish a white paper based on the full findings of the report.

Spokesman, Carl Atkey, said: “This research is really important feedback for us and has confirmed what we suspected. While engagement campaigns like 3millionlives are focusing on the health professionals, we think that it is vitally important to engage the patients - the people who will actually be using our services. This has surely got to be a priority for us. We need the terms ‘telehealth’ and ‘telecare’ to be as widely used and understood by the public as ‘stethoscope’ and ‘syringe’.”

In the survey, less than one in 10 people - 9% - said they had heard of telehealth, but only 5% said that they knew what it was, while 4% of people said they knew what telecare was.

Of those who answered that, yes, they had heard of telehealth and understood its meaning, comments suggested there is still a need for clarity of messaging.

However, the Government remains committed to rolling out solutions, with a recent Department of Health-accredited FACE assessment revealing potential savings of between £3m and £7.8m on social care budgets for older people with the rollout of telehealth and telecare solutions.