Summit Discusses Saving Lives

“Highlands and Islands”

Equipment to monitor road accident casualties, life saving diagnosis devices for mountain rescue teams, software to allow more care at home for those with long term conditions and digital toys to encourage children to live healthier lifestyles.

These were all topics under discussion at the Telehealthcare Summit held in Inverness over the past two days.

Delegates from around the world came together to plan how technology might play a major role in the way we deliver healthcare in the future and how Scotland can lead the way.

The event was organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), with input from the Scottish Science Advisory Council, the Scottish Centre for Telehealth and the government’s joint improvement team.

HIE’s Director of Regional Competitiveness Alex Paterson says the region’s growing reputation for healthcare provision and research provides an excellent grounding to develop cluster for the sector in the Highlands and Islands.

”Valuable minutes”

He commented: “Internationally everyone agrees that this is a sector which is set to grow at some speed.  Technology has freed us up in many ways in our every day lives and we are already beginning to see a range of products and devices directly and indirectly treating and preventing health problems in our homes.

“As the industry begins to expand, there is a real opportunity for the Highlands and Islands and for Scotland to shape the way forward.  As a development agency HIE’s focus is on developing innovation, supporting growing businesses and encouraging research and development in these fledgling industries.  We are already investing in future infrastructure which will attract new business, including projects like the creation of the Centre for Health Science and the Inverness Campus.”

The delegates at the event included international and local device and software developers, health and social work professionals and communications companies.  One of the speakers at the event, Aviemore GP Mike Langran, who is a volunteer doctor for the local CairnGorm ski patrol, said that lives will be saved as this industry develops.  He told a workshop that the possibility of monitoring equipment which could help emergency response teams quickly identify life threatening conditions could provide valuable minutes.

“I am very excited about the prospects technology can offer.  For some people it really can be a life or death situation,” he commented.

HIE is to co-ordinate an action plan from the event to create a way for those involved to work together.

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