3millionlives

This is a new initiative which has been developed because the Department of Health (DH) believes that at least three million people with long term conditions and/or social care needs could benefit from the use of telehealth and telecare services. Implemented effectively as part of a whole system redesign of care, telehealth and telecare can alleviate pressure on long term NHS costs and improve people's quality of life through better self-care in the home setting. On 19th January 2012, Paul Burstow, Minister for Care Services committed to work with industry, to support the NHS, social care and professional partners in 3millionlives in order to achieve this level of change.

The main objectives for this initiative are:

For DH and industry to work together over the next 5 years to develop the market and remove barriers to delivery.
For DH to create the right environment to support the uptake of telehealth and telecare including rewarding organisations for adopting and integrating these technologies in services by developing a tariff.
For industry to work with the NHS, social care and other stakeholders to simplify procurement and commissioning processes for telehealth and telecare services at scale.
To put the NHS and UK industry at the forefront of telehealth and telecare globally, developing significant opportunities for UK plc.
To promote the benefits that telehealth and telecare services can provide people in managing their health and care.

BMJ publishes first telehealth report
The first paper reviewing the research from the Whole System demonstrators is now online. The report confirms the WSD headline findings – 45% reduction in mortality rates, a 20% reduction in emergency admissions – and an impressive 11% reduction in the proportion of people admitted to hospital. Obviously cost effectiveness is key, and the 3millionlives partnership is working to ensure that telehealth can be delivered at scale at the right price for the public purse.

Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:

"This paper shows that telehealth can help to reduce emergency hospital admissions by 20% and mortality by 45% for patients with long-term conditions. To realise these benefits we need service transformation - and telehealth can help deliver that change.

“We are working closely with industry, the NHS and social care organisations to make progress through the 3millionlives initiative to develop flexible funding models with a reduced price point, which will achieve the economies of scale needed to make telehealth a success.”

A summary of the report can be found on the 3millionlives website.

Further information can be found via: http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3874

BMJ press release and 3millionlives response can be found in the TSA news section.

For more information, or to find out how to get involved in this initiative, please click on the image below.