Image source: NHS

UK’s NHS embraces smartwatches in major healthcare initiative

The UK National Health Service is embracing the digital age with plans to distribute smartwatches and other wearable devices to millions of patients across the United Kingdom. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to modernize healthcare delivery and reduce pressure on traditional medical facilities.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting is obviously looking to ease the burden on the NHS. And his latest announcement marks a shift in the approach to patient care. It moves it toward a more preventative and community-based model. The program aims to enable patients to monitor their health conditions from the comfort of their home, potentially reducing the frequency of hospital and GP visits while allowing for more timely interventions when needed.

The potential range of applications for wearable tech devices is impressive. Diabetes patients would, for example, be able to track blood glucose levels with real-time phone alerts. Those with hypertension can monitor their blood pressure without frequent clinic visits. Cancer patients may receive smart rings to track vital signs during treatment, building on successful trials in Greater Manchester where lung, bowel, and blood cancer patients have already benefited from this technology.

Essential readingTop fitness trackers and health gadgets

For those managing chronic conditions like Parkinson’s disease, smartwatches will help track tremors, while stroke recovery patients can monitor their mobility progress. This level of continuous monitoring could provide healthcare providers with valuable data trends, enabling more informed treatment decisions.

What interests us, in particular, is the choice of devices that will be deployed. So far there has been no word on this. Will the NHS partner with established manufacturers or develop proprietary technology specifically for this initiative? This decision will likely influence both the program’s implementation timeline and its long-term sustainability.

For the Manchester trial, patients were handed out Withings Scanwatches and Oura rings. So it seems partnerships will well known brands might be the preferred option. One could imagine that this area could prove to be very lucrative for wearable tech manufacturers.


Is this the future of healthcare?

We have been obsessed with wearables for years now, so are great fans of the initiative. And believe this is the way things will head in the coming years.

By enabling patients to monitor their conditions at home, the NHS could potentially reduce the strain on its resources. For instance, Type 2 diabetes patients, who currently average monthly hospital or GP visits, could significantly reduce their in-person appointments through remote monitoring.

This move by the NHS may well set a precedent for other healthcare systems worldwide. As populations age and healthcare demands increase, other countries will likely watch this program closely, potentially adopting similar approaches if successful.

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Marko Maslakovic

Marko founded Gadgets & Wearables in 2014, having worked for more than 15 years in the City of London’s financial district. Since then, he has led the company’s charge to become a leading information source on health and fitness gadgets and wearables.

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