Connected Health technology is key to improved service for patients: Poots tells Helsinki conference

Health Minister Edwin Poots today took a step forward in helping patients access high-technology healthcare in their homes.
~ Thursday, 9 February 2012

Mr Poots was in Finland for the Northern Ireland and Massachusetts Connection (NIMAC) conference on Connected Health. This is a unique opportunity which could help Northern Ireland bring state-of-the-art healthcare technology to those that need it while at the same time promoting the business openings which come with it.

During his visit to Helsinki, Mr Poots took part in a high level meeting hosted by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in Helsinki. In talks with Finnish, Catalonian and US representatives, Mr Poots agreed measures for developing closer links and sharing expertise in fields such as research and development. He also agreed to take joint steps towards accessing key European funding, through the European Innovation Partnerships programme, which is available for high technology healthcare.

Mr Poots said that Northern Ireland's size meant it was well-placed to test new technologies; "Northern Ireland can influence European policy. Our size is an asset in the testing of new innovations. It allows us to be a leader in the field by sharing our experiences."

The Health Minister also took part in discussions with partners from the United States, Catalonia,and Finland about sharing best practice in health and social care. He promoted the health and prosperity agenda as highlighted in the Memorandum of Understanding between DHSSPS and InvestNI. Mr Poots told the conference, which included senior figures from government, business and health in Europe and the USA, that Connected Health and the technology that it produces, is central to the aims of Transforming Your Care, the recently published review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.

Earlier, speaking on the subject of Stronger Health and Economy through NIMAC co-operation, the Health Minister told delegates at the conference: “While we are all here to share our knowledge, expertise and experience, I came to learn. I want to learn how we, in Northern Ireland, can use technology to improve quality of service for our patients.

“We identified a number of reasons for change including the need to prevent ill-health; the desire to provide better patient-centred care; the requirement to manage increased demand across the system; and the necessity to support our workforce in delivering change. I believe Connected Health will contribute to the solution in all these areas by providing the necessary tools – it can be cutting edge innovation or simply finding a new use for everyday technology.

“I want to see people treated as close to home when appropriate. It is better for them and it is better for our healthcare system. So whatever technology we use to achieve this the more we can enable and empower people to manage their own conditions, the more we can keep them nearer to their loved ones at home and the more we can avoid unnecessary and inappropriate hospital stays.

“In Northern Ireland we witnessed the advantages of Connected Health through the launch of our remote telemonitoring service, Telemonitoring NI. This represents an £18million investment over the next six years and will benefit in the region of 20,000 people, but put simply: It is Connected Health in action.

“The advantages to health are, of course, only one area of interest. We are very aware of the potential for growth within the Life Sciences sector. It is well recognised in the Life Sciences sector, that economic and health benefits will only arise through effective collaboration between business, academic and clinical stakeholders, particularly in areas of research and development and we hope to work together in areas where both health and the economy can benefit.

“Our relationships outside Northern Ireland will also be vital to achieving our goals. As I am sure you are all aware, NIMAC was founded with a common goal between Massachusetts and Northern Ireland to strengthen business and research collaboration between the two regions. It has now, of course, expanded to include Finland and Catalonia. The research links, established between North America and Europe, are key to developing new innovative products and services, which will transform healthcare, particularly in the areas of chronic disease management and prevention.”

The Minister is also due to travel north to Oulu for the opening of The Centre for Health and Technology and an opportunity to see first hand how technology was supporting healthcare.

Notes to editors:

1. NIMAC, the Northern Ireland Massachusetts Connection, is a group dedicated to advancing business, research and clinical collaboration, between Massachusetts, Northern Ireland and Europe. For more details go to the NIMAC website

2. Pictures are available on flickr

3. The Symposium on Connected Health runs from 8-10 February at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Vuorimiehentie 5, Espoo in Finland.

4. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between DHSSPS and Invest NI “Connected Health and Prosperity” was signed on 6 December, 2011. It has been agreed that DHSSPS will lead the Project Team for the first 12 months. This will entail taking the lead on the drafting of the Action Plan. The Project Board is also being established with Invest NI. The Board will be chaired by the Project Sponsors (the Permanent Secretary of DHSSPS and the Chief Executive of Invest NI) and will comprise two additional senior representatives from DHSSPS and Invest NI, a representative each from QUB and UU and two representatives from the private sector.

5. Remote Telemonitoring was launched in December, 2011.

6. For media inquiries about this release, photographs or broadcast interviews with Minister Poots on Connected Health contact DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.