Chilean Health Delegates Visit Northern ireland

Health Minister Edwin Poots has welcomed delegates from the Chilean Health Industry to Northern Ireland.

The delegates are currently on a familiarisation trip across Europe.

Mr Poots welcomed them to a Connected Health Ecosystem event in the University of Ulster at Jordanstown.

The delegates are interested in chronic conditions management. The focus of their visit is telehealth and telecare and they are particularly keen to learn more about Northern Ireland’s remote telemonitoring project.

Telemonitoring involves carers remotely monitoring patients at their home from another location.

The system works through a number of monitoring devices in the patient’s home, the results of which are sent via telephone to the health care provider.

The Minister said: "I would wish to extend a warm Ulster welcome to our health colleagues from Chile. I recognise that through closer co-operation and through sharing our experiences, challenges and expertise from within our respective healthcare services we have the potential to unlock key benefits.

"Advances in technology must be embraced particularly within our health service and utilised accordingly. Recent developments in telemonitoring exemplify this.

"Tele-monitoring NI continues to grow and expand. The programme helps to give thousands of people greater control over managing their condition. For many, mobility is problematic, so having the facility to monitor their vital signs at home brings its advantages. To be able to share the success of this with the Chilean Health Ministry is gratifying."

(IT)