According to the organisation, the innovative new healthcare technology will revolutionise the way patients will be able to receive advice and support by providing direct ‘live' communication with experts from the comfort of their own armchair. It will help doctors and carers talk with patients in their own homes, reducing the number of patients having to travel to and from hospitals. It will also make the service much more personalised, convenient and timely for the patient.

The Tele-health Consultation System which will be a TV based video telephony solution, will be developed in conjunction with a number of partners including Red Embedded Design, a Bradford based company that has been developing a TV-based videophone telephony service. Other partners include BTL, also a Bradford based technology company that is developing interactive e-learning applications for the service.

The revolutionary system, which will initially be deployed by another of the partners in the consortium, the Airedale NHS Trust, will supply affordable in-home two-way video services for tele-support, health advice and information as well as direct ‘live' tele-consultations with its health professionals. It is envisaged that once trialled by the Airedale NHS Trust, the solution could be deployed more widely across the NHS and elsewhere.

John Eaglesham chief executive officer of ADI said, “This is an exciting project which will change the way patients receive care in the home whilst also providing numerous economic and social benefits.”

The seven figure research project will involve further developing the technology to provide a highly interactive consultation experience for the patient and doctor, including cameras with zoom and pan controls, and connection to a streaming video server providing video information clips to patients.

The project is being supported with funding from the UK Technology Strategy Board under their Assisted Living Innovation Platform programme. Explaining the Technology Strategy Board's support for the research their Assisted Living specialist, Jackie Marshall-Cyrus,said: "Throughour Assisted Living Innovation Platform, we are investing in the development of technology-based solutions that address health and care challenges caused by the welcomeimpact of living longer, but the increasing demand for care for people withlong term conditions.Once developed, this system will have the potential to bring social and economic benefits to the UK, and could be used around the world. We are delighted to offer our support."

The picture shows, Debby Bentley, Programme Manager Airedale NHS Trust, Claire Wrightson, Programme Manager BTL, Ian Stoddart, Project Manager Red Embedded, David Harson, Programme Manager ADI and Dave Taylor, Director Red Embedded

The ADI is funded by a £2M Yorkshire Forward contract, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Airedale Partnership, and EU Regional Fund support.