Email
There are more and more old people around and it's inevitable that many will suffer physical problems or some stage of dementia, and looking after them is placing an increasing strain on the nation's resources. We want to protect them from the risks that come with their conditions, but there is no cheap option to doing so, especially given our society's attitude on the limits of family responsibilities.
In this context it's not surprising that plenty of people have high hopes for telecare and telehealth. They appeal to our belief that that vulnerable people retain their dignity when they can maintain their independence, and they can take some of the strain away from institutions and carers. But they also come at a cost which can prove quite daunting.
This is creating a cautious attitude among many of the bodies that can make use of the technology. There's no arguing that it would be a substantial investment, and many are not sure if they will enjoy the financial results, which tends to be spread around a number of organisations. Their reticence must be made worse by the growing belief that a public spending squeeze is on the way.
A debate is currently taking place around how the costs and benefits of telecare mount up against those of more established care models - notably extending hospital stays or placing people in residential care. The maths is rather complicated and still short of being conclusive, but there is a growing body of opinion that in the long term it would be less expensive than funding more hospital beds and care home places.
The financial case may still need work, especially for trusts and local authorities, but the human benefits would become apparent more quickly and it would be a waste not to reap them. In that case it's time for central government, which would find it easier to justify the benefits being widely spread, to bite the bullet and provide the investment for a growth in telecare and telehealth facilities.
We've seen the beginnings in the past year or so; we hope that before long it will become a regular feature of central spending on healthcare.
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