Smart watches on the NHS for some says Streeting.

My sister has had abnormal heart rhythm and consequently a number of procedures to her heart over the last few years. She has had huge benefit in using a smart watch to monitor her heart rhythm, and to ensure she takes the recommended amount of exercise without being over strenuous - it provides her with reassurance, which is so important when your condition (understandably in her case) increases your anxiety.

I think I’m not surprised at these negative opinions.

I think it's a good idea if the data security is ensured.

Why not save yourself if you can?

I would rather people be able to see their GP’s to get face to face reassurance and help. So much information can be gained when there is human interaction as opposed to a telephone consultation.

A smart watch is only is only useful if it is used correctly, honestly I think it is a headline grabbing gimmick like weight loss jabs.

(We are fortunate our practice is open 8am - 8pm Mon-Fri and 8am-12.30pm Sat, seeing a GP or if preferred a nurse practitioner is not a problem)

Just for the record my opinion would have been the same if the Conservatives had suggested this.

If people have a health problem which needs regular monitoring they would be very stupid people indeed to throw these devices in a drawer or sell them. No doubt a discussion would take place between the consultant and patient before a decision is made and only suggested if the patient is enthusiastic.
As for ‘ the fact that most people don’t want to be monitored’ I would be surprised if that were the case.

I'm on the British Heart Foundation website which has a forum dedicated to A Fib. Actually it's surprising how many people regularly check their arrhythmias via a Kardia or smart watch device and can send information to an arrhythmia nurse. I believe a pilot using smart rings in Manchester with cancer patients has proved successful as well so I am open minded about it.
I've got a pacemaker with home monitoring and also my own blood pressure machine and oximeter so I'm quite used to taking responsibility for my own health and hopefully as a result I save the NHS money with unnecessary visits whilst keeping myself safe.

Yes we have a bp machine, an oxy meter and thermometer and used all 3 on dh who hasn’t been well these past few days.

I think everyone should have an oximeter at home, it’s the thing doctors put on fingers, and us a useful gauge to the oxygen in our bodies. Mine was £7 so doesn’t break the bank.

GrannyGravy13

I would rather people be able to see their GP’s to get face to face reassurance and help. So much information can be gained when there is human interaction as opposed to a telephone consultation.

A smart watch is only is only useful if it is used correctly, honestly I think it is a headline grabbing gimmick like weight loss jabs.

(We are fortunate our practice is open 8am - 8pm Mon-Fri and 8am-12.30pm Sat, seeing a GP or if preferred a nurse practitioner is not a problem)

My sister has had very good GP support, she can book in and be seen the same day. A GP isn’t a substitute for constant monitoring though, she needs to feel confident she can walk up a hill that day, when to sit down if she is doing the housework, when her heart rate is high and she needs to contact the GP and when she doesn’t. I’m not sure it’s possible to put ourselves in those shoes unless it happens to us.

Casdon

My sister has had abnormal heart rhythm and consequently a number of procedures to her heart over the last few years. She has had huge benefit in using a smart watch to monitor her heart rhythm, and to ensure she takes the recommended amount of exercise without being over strenuous - it provides her with reassurance, which is so important when your condition (understandably in her case) increases your anxiety.

This is Gransnet, where every possible improvement is denigrated!!

And you come here with your logic and experience!!

My husband used one of these for a couple of years to monitor possible AF. We bought one because we could afford to and we understand the value and how to use it. I am glad that these will be made more widely available, could easily save lives.

I have an Apple watch that monitors heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen levels and more. The results are monitored and stored in an app which you can share with your doctor.

I haven't heard of these being given away - they are quite expensive. I would imagine they will be loaned out, like BP monitors, and patients would have to return them after diagnosis. If someone has an ongoing condition, however, it makes sense to monitor it if doing so increases survival rates. There is no point in having technology if we don't use it.

As with everything, prices will come down in time, and more basic models will come onstream that don't have recreational apps and the ability to check email. These will be the ones that are used by the NHS, I assume.

I would prefer people to continue seeing their GPs
My mum who lived to be 90 and was very healthy apart from Alzheimer’s (which took every part of her life away both physical and mental) ate the most health diet including no fat salt or sugar yet all her life she had high cholesterol count which gave her no problems at all How would a watch deal with that it would have had her on all sorts of tablets I m sure.
I think it’s the short end of ‘do it yourself’ doctoring

How do they work? What do they do? I've never heard of a smart watch.

My DH has cancer and a heart condition. His Apple Watch monitors ECG, heart rate and rhythm, providing warnings, records SATs and BP, and informs the emergency services of falls. I can check his progress to and from hospital and speak to him and message when he is lying flat attached to drips and monitors.
I can't believe that there are people stupid enough to think this is a not a good idea, but perhaps they have not experienced serious illness or cared for loved ones undergoing intensive treatment.

Just had a quick look on Amazon, the cheapest smart watch is £17.99.

I hope that Wes Streeting is looking at this end of the market and not Apple smart watch as the newest model is £399.

Bluebelle a smart watch can't do blood tests and they would only be offered to people who would benefit from them.

At the moment, different information is being handed out

as in

Streeting is set to launch a consultation on Monday on proposals such as giving patients smartwatches and wearable devices to track their health and address serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Millions to be handed health-monitoring smart watches by NHS

Let's wait and see what actually happens as as result of the consultation as to distribution. I dont agree with wasteful distribution but we don't know what the criteria will be.

Nothing can replace GP monitoring but if 24/7 monitoring can help it has to be worth consideration.

Perhaps a Fitbit? I wear one - counts steps. Charge it weekly. Brilliant technology. Quite reasonably priced. £139.00

FITBIT Charge 6 Fitness Tracker
Tracks sports / steps / distance / calories / sleep
Monitors HR / VO2 Max / blood oxygen / stress / temperature
Battery life: Up to 7 days
Water resistant (5 ATM)
GPS
Compatible with Android / iOS
Bluetooth
2 year guarantee

I wonder if this could result in even more calls to the GP surgeries as people may worry about the slightest blip which might be of no actual concern?

My sister bought the one recommended by her cardiologist, which she downloads to their system before appointments. Compatibility is the key issue.

As with the budget, I’ll await the detail before commenting.

Allira

I wonder if this could result in even more calls to the GP surgeries as people may worry about the slightest blip which might be of no actual concern?

It’s actually the opposite in my sister’s case, because she couldn’t differentiate when she needed to see her GP and when it wasn’t necessary, whereas with the watch she knows exactly how high her heart rate is and if an episode is long enough to warrant an appointment, you can’t tell how high your heart rate is by how you feel according to her, and anxiety makes her feel worse. She’s obviously only one person, but I think most people with serious heart conditions are anxious and would be reassured by the equipment. I only have second hand experience with heart conditions, I don’t know how people with other conditions would feel.

So for her it works. Good.
Presumably it will be investigated or trialled first anyway.

I doubt they are being recommended instead of visits to a GP.

They can't do blood tests, as they are non-invasive, so can't be used for cholesterol etc. They can measure the oxygen in the blood by shining a laser from the underside of the watch onto the wrist and checking haemoglobin. Similarly they can check respiratory and heart rate and therefore AF. I think some models can check blood pressure, but not as accurately as a purpose-made machine.

They won't replace doctors, but can allow people to monitor, say, oxygen levels (or whatever) over a period of time and pass this information to a doctor at a consultation, or get help if they fall below danger level.