Welsh Telemedicine sees strong progress
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He was speaking at the seventh summit meeting of the British Irish Council on the Isle of Man tomorrow (Friday 20 May 2005).
The main focus of the Isle of Man summit was on the benefits of Telemedicine in modernising and improving how health and social care is delivered.
Speaking ahead of the summit, First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "Wales has a remarkable story to tell in this area. We have been at the forefront of Telemedicine development in the UK for a number of years. A number of Telemedicine projects were pioneered in Wales such as the Tele Education and Medicine Team Project in the mid 1990s which looked at the potential of Telemedicine in providing medical support for rural communities.
"The Welsh Assembly Government also set up a Telehealth team which has been responsible for implementing and co-ordinating Telemedicine and Telecare services across Wales for the last few years. Particularly beneficial has been the installation of video conferencing facilities throughout Wales which have resulted in a huge time and travel saving for NHS staff and health professionals.
"I look forward to sharing our experiences in this field and exchanging views on best practice with other British Irish Council members."
Health Minister Dr Brian Gibbons who chaired the All-Wales Telemedicine and Telecare Programme while he was Deputy Minister for Health said: "Telemedicine is an important area of health care which is helping to enhance the patient experience by improving access to diagnosis and treatment in Wales. Patients in remote parts of Wales have benefited from the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide healthcare from a distance and therefore keep patient services local.
"As we become ever more reliant on technology the potential for Telemedicine to make further advances in the health service in Wales is huge. I am confident that Wales will continue to lead the way in this very important line of work."
Related links to this article:
Welsh Assembly
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