Birmingham OwnHealth has been shortlisted for the ‘Best use of telehealth and telecare’ award for its assistive technology project. As part of the project, more than 160 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure have had special machines installed in their homes which allow them to record their weight, pulse, oxygen levels and blood pressure. The readings are monitored by the patient’s Care Manager at the Birmingham OwnHealth call centre in Dudley, and if there is any cause for concern the patient’s Assertive Case Manager can visit to give treatment.

Dr Richard Mendelsohn, Director of Chronic Disease Systems at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “We are very proud to have been shortlisted for this award and I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible, including staff at NHS Birmingham East and North and in particular, the Assertive Case Managers and our partner organisations – Pfizer Health Solutions, NHS Direct and Honeywell.”

Now in their fourth year, the awards seek out and reward outstanding work within the UK healthcare IT sector. The awards will be presented on Wednesday 6 October in the newly refurbished Grand Hall at the Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London.

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Enquiries

For more information, please contact Niki McGrath, Birmingham OwnHealth Communications and Engagement Manager, on 0121 380 0638 or Sarah Millard, Senior Communications Manager, on 0121 380 0620.

Note to Editors

• For more information on the EHI Awards 2010 in association with BT visit: www.ehealthawards.com.

• For all enquiries about the EHI Awards, please contact: Neil Hadland or Emma Corbett on 020 7785 6924/06 or email: events@e-health-media.com
• eHealth Insider, www.e-health-insider.com is the only independent online news, events and information service dedicated to UK healthcare information technology. Over 22,000 IT industry and NHS professionals are registered members of the E-Health Insider community and readers of its weekly, e-mailed newsletter.
• Birmingham OwnHealth is a telephone-based support and advice service aimed at
  people who live in east and north Birmingham and have long- term conditions, including diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, stroke or TIA (“mini stroke”) and chronic kidney disease. It also helps people who are aged over 65 and would like help with a range of conditions. The aim of the service is to help people make positive changes to their health and lifestyles and learn how to manage their conditions better. Health professionals are designated to each member and provide them with one-to-one healthcare in several languages over the telephone by health professionals designated to each member.

• Birmingham OwnHealth is a partnership of NHS Birmingham East and North, UK Pfizer Health Solutions and NHS Direct. Pfizer Health Solutions is a group within Pfizer Limited that operates independently of Pfizer’s medicines business.

The results of a patient satisfaction survey revealed that since using the assistive technology machines, 63% of patients have had fewer unplanned admissions to hospital and 67% felt that their general health was more stable. In addition, 74% said that they felt less anxious about their health and 54% felt they had been able to do more with their friends and family. And 90% of patients said they would recommend the service to their family and friends.

Currently more than 150 patients across east and north Birmingham have had the assistive technology equipment installed in their homes as part of their care package. This includes a special machine that allows patients to record readings of their weight, pulse, oxygen level and blood pressure at times of the day to suit them.

The data is automatically sent to Birmingham OwnHealth, the telephone-based support service for people with long term conditions, where nurses monitor the readings. If the readings give cause for concern, the patient’s Assertive Case Manager will be alerted and call round to check up on them if necessary.

Dr Richard Mendelsohn, Director of Chronic Disease Systems at NHS Birmingham East and North added: “We are delighted with the results of this survey, which prove what a success assistive technology is to the people who use it. Already more than 166 patients within east and north Birmingham are benefiting from these machines, which are another way in which to help them to manage their condition better, live more independently and have a better quality of life.”

To find out if Birmingham OwnHealth or how Assistive Technology can help you with your long-term condition, ask your GP or other health professional in east or north Birmingham or go to www.birminghamownhealth.co.uk.
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Enquiries

For more information, please contact Niki McGrath, Communications and Engagement Manager, on 0121 380 0638 / niki.mcgrath@benpct.nhs.uk or Sarah Millard, Senior Communications Manager on 0121 380 0620 / sarah.millard@benpct.nhs.uk

Notes for editors

NHS Birmingham East and North commissioned the survey which was sent out to 174 people who use the assistive technology and we received 72 responses. For a full copy of the survey results please email niki.mcgrath@benpct.nhs.uk

• Birmingham OwnHealth is a telephone-based support and advice service aimed at people who live in east and north Birmingham and have long- term conditions, including diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high blood pressure, stroke or TIA (“mini stroke”) and chronic kidney disease. It also helps people who are aged over 65 and would like help with a range of conditions.
• The aim of the service is to help people make positive changes to their health and lifestyles and learn how to manage their conditions better. Health professionals are designated to each member and provide them with one-to-one healthcare in several languages over the telephone by health professionals designated to each member.
• Birmingham OwnHealth is a partnership of NHS Birmingham East and North, UK Pfizer Health Solutions and NHS Direct. Pfizer Health Solutions is a group within Pfizer Limited that operates independently of Pfizer’s medicines business.

Freshwinds B-Sage Good Neighbour Project is a well-being project for adults aged 50+, who are registered with an NHS Birmingham East and North GP and are living with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke or TIA (“mini-stroke”), chronic vascular disease, chronic kidney disease and heart failure.

Its aim is to enable older adults to live independently within the community by providing support and advice from a team of good neighbour volunteers. The good neighbour volunteers will be on hand to support people who face issues arising from health problems, disability, isolation and personal safety, and to help them access community groups, social activities and appointments.

In addition, individuals who are 65+ who are considered to be at a health risk or risk of falls can receive a low level service, providing advice, information and sign-posting only.

The project is funded by NHS Birmingham East and North and since October 2009 it has been aligned with Birmingham OwnHealth.

Dr Rhonda T. Lee, Vice President/Director Integrated Medicine at Freshwinds, said: “If you are 50 or over and have a GP in the NHS Birmingham East and North area – which includes Yardley, Acocks Green, Stechford, Sheldon, Shard End, Hodge Hill, Washwood Health, Bordesley Green, Tyburn, Stockland Green, Erdington, Oscott, Kingstanding and Sutton areas – and have any of the above health conditions, or you are 65 or over and at risk of having a health issue, you may be eligible for a volunteer from the project.

“The B Sage volunteer support workers can help with social and health visits, as well as offering carer respite and linking clients with local groups and organisations, enabling them to live more independently within the community.”

One of the people to benefit from B Sage is a 73 year old lady who lives alone in the east of the city. She has long term health issues including diabetes, heart failure and TIA, but a support plan has been drawn up to help with her mobility issues. She has now been referred to the Falls Prevention Team and Occupational Therapy, which has helped in her daily activities around the home. Her support worker will be going shopping with her, as well as accompanying her to GP appointments.

People can refer them selves to the service by completing the form on the website at www.freshwinds.org.uk/cms/b-sage-2. For further information, contact the B-Sage Team on 0121 415 6670 or email office@freshwinds.org.uk.

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Enquiries
For more information, please contact Sarah Millard, NHS Birmingham East and North Communications and Engagement Manager, on 0121 380 063 or sarah.millard@benpct.nhs.uk.

Notes for editors

• Birmingham OwnHealth is a healthcare service for people with long term conditions in Birmingham. It provides one-to-one healthcare in several languages over the telephone by health professionals designated to each member.

• The service helps people with conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, stroke/TIA (“mini-stroke”), high blood pressure or are aged over 65 and would like help with a range of health conditions to make positive changes to their health and lifestyles and learn how to manage their conditions better.

• Birmingham OwnHealth is a partnership of NHS Birmingham East and North, UK Pfizer Health Solutions and NHS Direct. Pfizer Health Solutions is a group within Pfizer Limited that operates independently of Pfizer’s medicines business.

• The Birmingham OwnHealth website can be accessed at www.birminghamownhealth.co.uk

People around east and north Birmingham are set to be helped to lose weight and keep it off – thanks to a programme of innovative telephone support.

Research has shown that many people who shed the pounds as part of a weight loss programme often ‘rebound’ and end up piling the weight back on when the programme comes to an end. Now Birmingham OwnHealth, a telephone based health support service, is here to help the yo-yoers.

Around 300 people across the area will go from their NHS weight loss programme – such as Size Down, Dietetics or the specialist weight management service – into the hands of the Care Managers at Birmingham OwnHealth, who will help them to maintain their weight or lose even more.

The Care Managers will call their members regularly to motivate them to maintain the positive lifestyle choices they started in the weight loss programme, such as eating healthier and exercising more.

There’s even better news for the lucky dieters, as they will be receiving shopping vouchers to reward them for joining, regularly providing their weight readings and successfully keeping off the flab at the end of six months.

Linda Hindle, Consultant Dietitian at NHS Birmingham East and North, said: “Birmingham OwnHealth has already proved successful with helping members who have long-term health conditions to lose weight and so improve their health.

“We know that weight maintenance is much more difficult than weight loss because although it requires the same amount of effort, it doesn’t come with the same positive reinforcement such as weight loss, compliments and change in appearance. Long term support and incentives will improve the likelihood that people maintain the lifestyle changes they made to lose weight, and if people can maintain that weight loss for two years, they have a good chance of never putting it back on.”

Studies show that a relatively modest weight loss leads to improved levels of cholesterol and sugar in the blood, reduced blood pressure and reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

To find out more about Birmingham OwnHealth or the weight maintenance programme, people should ask a GP or other health professional in east or north Birmingham or go to www.birminghamownhealth.co.uk.

Carol Bradley, who lives in Erdington, has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and recently became a member of Birmingham OwnHealth. This service, run by NHS Birmingham East and North, offers regular support and advice service over the telephone to people like Carol who have long-term conditions, including diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, stroke or TIA (“mini stroke”) and chronic kidney disease, as well as COPD.

As part of her care package, Carol was offered Assistive Technology equipment, including a Genesis machine that allows her to take readings of her weight, pulse, oxygen level and blood pressure in her own home. Patients do this at certain times of the day to suit them, in response to questions asked out loud by the machine. If the readings give cause for concern, the patient’s Birmingham OwnHealth Care Manager alerts their Assertive Case Manager, who is based in the community. The Assertive Case Manager can go on the road to check up on that patient if necessary.

Sophie Byrne, Carol’s Assertive Case Manager, takes up the story: “Carol was known to have low oxygen levels and had been admitted to hospital many times due to her COPD, so I set her up on the Assistive Technology soon after our first assessment.

“Just two weeks later, the machine recorded that her oxygen levels were dangerously low. However, when I visited her other levels were normal and she was not short of breath, so she was reluctant to go to hospital.

“I persuaded her to go to hospital that day and as soon as she arrived, she was on NIV (non-invasive ventilation). Her family were called to the hospital by the doctors and informed that she may not survive.

“However, the following day they started reducing her treatment and she was sitting eating toast when I called. She was discharged a few days later and was able to enjoy Christmas at home with her family. I am sure that had she have fallen asleep with those oxygen levels she would have died, and believe the Assistive Technology saved her life.”

Carol added: “Without the Assistive Technology machine, without a doubt I wouldn’t be here today. I knew that I was dying. I would recommend the Assistive Technology to everyone; in fact, when I was in hospital I recommended it to the lady in bed next to me!

“I and my family would like to thank not only the Assistive Technology, but everyone who was involved, including all the staff that have contributed, such as the community team, Birmingham OwnHealth, the nurses in hospital, my physios and my consultant, Tim Fletcher.”

To find out if Birmingham OwnHealth or Assistive Technology can help you with your long-term condition, ask your GP or other health professional in east or north Birmingham or go to www.birminghamownhealth.co.uk.
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Enquiries

For more information, please contact Sarah Millard, Birmingham OwnHealth Communications and Engagement Manager, on 0121 380 0638.

Notes for editors

Birmingham OwnHealth is a healthcare service for people with long term conditions in Birmingham. It provides one-to-one healthcare in several languages over the telephone by health professionals designated to each member.

The service helps people with conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, stroke/TIA (“mini-stroke”), high blood pressure or are aged over 65 and would like help with a range of health conditions to make positive changes to their health and lifestyles and learn how to manage their conditions better.

Birmingham OwnHealth is a partnership of NHS Birmingham East and North, UK Pfizer Health Solutions and NHS Direct. Pfizer Health Solutions is a group within Pfizer Limited that operates independently of Pfizer’s medicines business.

The quality and value of a person’s relationship with their GP and/or local healthcare professionals is strengthened and becomes more effective. People become well-informed, motivated and progressively more independent in the management of their own health and understand how to engage with and use their local healthcare services more effectively.

Increased levels of self-care positively contribute towards improving the health and wellness of individuals and UK population. It also plays a role in addressing the ever-growing burden on healthcare services and resources, helping the NHS evolve from a reactive sickness service towards a patient-centred one which encourages people to play a greater role in staying healthy.

Care management helps individuals to learn and understand the importance of eight key care priorities

• How and when to call the doctor
• About their conditions and set goals
• To take their medicines correctly
• To get recommended tests and services
• To act to keep the condition well controlled
• To make lifestyle changes and reduce risks
• How to build on strengths and overcome obstacles
• To follow up with specialists and appointments

Services based on these principles strengthen the quality and value of a person’s relationship with their GP and/or local healthcare professionals. People become well-informed, motivated and progressively more independent in the management of their own health.

The Care Managers build one-to-one relationships with members, calling them at agreed times, as often as needed. Members can also call their Care Manager if they need extra support or have questions about condition on those occasions when a visit to their GP is not essential.