NHS Direct and NHS South East Essex embark on pilot 'telehealth' programme

NHS Direct and NHS South East Essex Community Healthcare have embarked on an exciting partnership project, to pilot ‘telehealth’ services to patients in the NHS South East Essex area.

Commissioned by NHS South East Essex, this project brings together; NHS Direct; South East Essex Community Healthcare; Docobo Limited; Choose Independence Ltd; and local patients.

'Telehealth' is all about using technology in the patient's own home to regularly record clinical information that is specific to a patients' long term medical condition, such as weight or blood pressure. The clinical information (commonly referred to by healthcare professionals as 'clinical indicators') will then be monitored in a remote location by NHS Direct.

Further details are available, please click here

TSA - Revised Code of Practice

Choose Independence is delighted to have partnered with the TSA in the publication of its revised Code of Practice – the publication of the new code represents the combination of extensive work undertaken by Choose Independence under the direction of the TSA and extensive engagement with key external stakeholders and Telecare industry representatives.

The revised code sets high but attainable quality standards for the industry and ensures clear and transparent information to the Telecare users. The revised code is in a matrix format providing a ready tool for those commissioning Telecare services.'

Choose Independence is able to bring its knowledge and experience in developing the revised code to support service providers seeking or renewing code accreditation or commissioners developing their Telecare services.

For further details on Choose Independence services please contact angela@ci-ltd.org or visit our web-site www.ci-ltd.org .

3rd, 4th & 5th November 2008, Brighton

THE NATIONAL TELECARE & TELEHEALTH CONFERENCE 2008

The TSA 2008 national telecare and telehealth conference saw more than 630 delegates pass through the doors, and with a superb conference agenda, more than 50 speakers / workshop leaders, and an exhibition zone with all of the latest advances in the Tele 'health' care field, once again exceeded our expectations.

Here are just a few of the more memorable images from the conference:


Angela Single CEO of CI, meets Jon Bentley presenter of Channel 5's 'The Gadget Show'	Angela Single and Jan Allwood meet Mike Clark	Angela Single. Malcolm Fisk and the new TSA code matrix.

13th May 2008, London

NAPC, Personalised Health and Social Care Conference

The Spring Conference of the National Association of Primary Care, with keynote speech from Lord Darzi, examined the biggest changes coming to the financing and delivery of health and social care.

This conference attended by over 150 senior members of health and social care organisations, set out how new systems will work in practice, how Primary Care Trusts and social services departments will work with GPs and how General Practice can deliver further improvements for the care of their patients.

Angela Single and David Foster of Choose Independence ran the first workshop / seminar titled 'New developments in Telecare'

Speakers included:

James Kingsland, Chair, NAPC
Mike Ramsden, Chief Executive Officer, NAPC
Angela Coulter, Chief Executive of Picker Institute Europe
Jeff Jerome , Director of Adult and Community Services, London
Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Personalisation Lead and Chair of
the Disability Network for Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
Patricia Wilkie, President, National Association for Patient Participation
Prof. Michael R Chester, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Liverpool &
Broadgreen University Hospital Trust and Professor of Rehabilitation and
Preventative Health Education, Liverpool Hope University
Tim Richardson, GP Partner, Integrated Care Partnership & Director
Epsom Day Surgery
David Fisher, Commercial Director, Association of the British
Pharmaceutical Industry
Dr Noel O'Kelly, GP, Spilsby Surgery Lincs

Angela SIngle, CEO of Choose Independence with Roy Lilley, Independent Health Expert and Dr James Kingland, Chair NAPC

Choose Independence awarded TSA review contract

Choose Independence Ltd (CI), is very pleased to announce that it has been awarded the contract to review the TSA Code of Practice. Choose Independence will be working in partnership with the TSA, its members and other key stakeholders to review and update the current Code of Practice Parts I, II and III to reflect the rapidly changing Telecare environment in the UK and to ensure the Code meets the needs of the TSA and its customers.

Commenting on the contract award Angela Single, CEO of Choose Independence, said: “I am delighted that the TSA has placed this important piece of work with Choose Independence. The TSA is looking for a revised Code for the UK that reflects developments in the marketplace and fits with its vision for telecare in the 21st century. We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner the TSA in developing this vision”.

Notes for Editors

Established in 2005 by its two senior partners, Angela Single and Jan Allwood, Choose Independence Ltd (CI) is an ethically impartial and independent consultancy dedicated to supporting and enhancing the quality of life of individuals through the use of Telecare, so that they can live as independent a life as possible.

The Telecare Services Association (TSA) is the trade association for the social alarms and telecare industry. It is a major driver of quality in the telecare market, primarily through its Code of Practice which provides a framework for its service providers and reassurance to telecare commissioners and service users. Currently over 60 of its members are compliant with one or more parts of the Code and there is significant growth in members attaining compliance.

The Code of Practice is viewed by TSA as a tool for continuous improvement and needs to reflect changes in the way telecare is provided, including technological developments and increased service user expectations. TSA sought a partner agency to assist it in a review and further development of the Code.

For further information please email us at enquiries@choose-independence.co.uk or call Liz Harrison on 01733 211070

Choose Independence is an ethical and impartial independent company.

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