

‘Test Bed programme’ first to explore the impact of connected technologies in care environments.
Patients using the NHS in the future are expected to gain full control over their care with IoT enabled solutions, according to the service provider.
The NHS Test Bed programme launched earlier this year is looking into the benefits of using connected devices such as weighting scales or heart beat monitors.
The healthcare provider said that by using solutions like Bluetooth to connect devices to patients’ smartphones and then to the ViTruCare system, it can save GPs’ time to focus on real emergencies.
Security risks associated with the technology are still being addressed. Data privacy and ownership are two key topics in the IoT industry and the NHS.
Some departments like at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust launched apps that enable patients to add data before visiting the service.
In April, CBR reported that IoT will revolutionise the healthcare industry. Over half of helath companies (52%) already have some sort of IoT solution underway or are in the process of implementing one.
Laurie Eldridge-Shanaman, Director, Global Healthcare Practice at Zebra Technologies, said: "The Internet of Things offers unparalleled opportunities for the industry.
"From enabling physicians to accurately track a patient’s health over time to better managing patient data across the continuum, IoT can advance the industry by providing visibility and process optimisation to enhance the patient experience."