Smart watches on the NHS for some says Streeting.

maddyfour

I think the thing that measures blood sugar is marvellous for diabetics. They wear it all the time I think and it tells them if the sugar levels are right. I don’t know what it’s called or much about it, but I do know it’s a marvellous piece of equipment for diabetics. I don’t know if the NHS provides them, or people buy them themselves.

This person has ended up in hospital twice recently as there was something wrong with the implant.
It seems more problematic than the previous device she had.

I think the thing that measures blood sugar is marvellous for diabetics. They wear it all the time I think and it tells them if the sugar levels are right. I don’t know what it’s called or much about it, but I do know it’s a marvellous piece of equipment for diabetics. I don’t know if the NHS provides them, or people buy them themselves.

Against what is she measuring it?

A good friend of mine has one, and it has changed her life. She used to have a monitor which measured blood sugar when she operated it, and she had to then work out how many units to inject, and check that it was right after giving the injection time to work. The implant removes all of that uncertainty, and makes life so much more regulated for her.

I'd be interested to know how your family member knows hers is not accurate and in what way it is unreliable, as it would be worrying if either of them were getting the wrong information.

MissAdventure

I've just thought - "her upstairs" has a sort of implant thing which monitors her diabetes levels.

Yes, one of our family members has one but it's not always accurate and is unreliable.

Why are people persisting in seeing this as a choice between seeing a GP and wearing a watch?

Surely people can do both, and if they see a GP )or consultant) with a set of statistics from the watch, the appointment can be shorter and there will be less of a need for follow-up tests. That is what I found when I was having respiratory investigations anyway. The consultant said that the watch results were reliable and accurate, but not as sophisticated as those from hospital machines, which could measure a broader range of things. He could decide, based on the watch results, which follow-up tests to order, which saved both money and time.

We are no wiser about the results, but that would be true irrespective of statistics - I just seem to be an anomaly.

I've just thought - "her upstairs" has a sort of implant thing which monitors her diabetes levels.

Surely, anything that helps give information about something potentially lethal is help in the battle to get seen, get heard, get a referral, and give the patient something to back them up.

But .. but … Will we get it? Especially if resources are thinly spread.
Wes recently said “the NHS is broken”.
Surely a radical overhaul is called for?

Different technology saves different lives for goodness sake. If smart technology can save the lives of, or prevent heart attacks or strokes in some people, which it can, is that less important than saving other lives? Not in my view, both need the investment.

People are being diagnosed with cancer, which has progressed to Stage 4 and is no longer treatable simply because they had to wait so long for a diagnostic MRI scan. This is disgraceful in this day and age in this western country. Forget Smart watches, put the funding towards more MRI and CT scanners because we know they will ultimately save lives

Sadly maddyfour owing to our home circumstances I totally agree with your comment.

I think there’s too much tinkering around the edges regards NHS much needed reforms.

I guess so.
None so queer as folk.

That was to Pippa22. 😊

My GP is sceptical that they will be any good at achieving what Wes Streeting hopes

Sadly I’m with your doctor on this.

MissAdventure

I'm surprised that people wouldn't want an active role in managing their own health.

If it was a device that alerted people of, say, a breast lump, would people be more willing?

No, there will always be people who will ignore anythingand everything - even breast lumps, assuming of course they even understand the significance of breast lumps.

I'm surprised that people wouldn't want an active role in managing their own health.

If it was a device that alerted people of, say, a breast lump, would people be more willing?

Spencer2009

They are not 100% accurate

They don't need to be, they are measuring things that are in constant flux like HR, BP, SATs, insulin levels, heart rhythms etc, looking at patterns that help diagnosis and how well drugs are working etc. They are far more accurate than one measurement taken at a clinic and far more reliable in determining risk of a serious outcome.

They are not 100% accurate

I think it can be a very useful tool. When my DH had bypass surgery, it took a while to get his med right; his heart rate was much too low causing dizziness. Having his smart watch, he was able to show the doctor what his rates were at various times of day. Mind you, we don't yet have the ability so 'share' the data, my DH just showed him while he was at his appointments.

Knowing our health care system, which is similar in many ways to yours, the gov't would outsource the scheme and it would cost millions more than it should. Then there would have to be official inquiries about cost overruns.....

I am trialing one of the “ watches “ that Wes Streeting was referring to yesterday.
Mine records blood pressure and resting heart rate only, 24 hours a day and it’s worn all the time. It is quite slim and has a plastic strap so is really comfortable to wear and looks smart.I have an app on my phone so can check my BP anytime.
I have to charge the phone every few days and also have a cuff which I synchronise then too.
I didn’t buy my watch but they are on sale for £230 so hopefully will only be handed out to people who will use them sensibly and charge as needed.
My GP is sceptical that they will be any good at achieving what Wes Streeting hopes and she would prefer to see her patients as necessary.

Whether or not a smart watch will be helpful to the people who are given one remains to be seen. I tend to think that the majority of Gransnetters seem to be quite highly motivated regarding their health and consequently many of them already use a smart watch. It’s those who are unmotivated to look after their health who who may well be given a free one, and we don’t know at this point, how it may or may not help them.

Anyway, having been messed about by the NHS re my spinal issue, which requires surgery to fix (consequently a smart watch would have done nothing to help) but what would have helped me get a quicker diagnosis, and consequently get me quicker on to the surgery list, would have been access to an MRI scanner more quickly. The NHS will send you round in circles to avoid putting you on to a list for an MRI scan because we have so few few MRI scanners per population, in this country. We have more CT scanners, but according to my recent reading, still far too few. People are being diagnosed with cancer, which has progressed to Stage 4 and is no longer treatable simply because they had to wait so long for a diagnostic MRI scan. This is disgraceful in this day and age in this western country. Forget Smart watches, put the funding towards more MRI and CT scanners because we know they will ultimately save lives.

This actually might have saved my brother who died of a massive heart attack at age 50. He had various tests over the years at outpatients but all showed normal ecg etc. It was intermittent and one day he had chest pains again, tried to make a GP appointment but they put him off as non urgent for 3 days time. He died a few hours later in his friend's living room.

My daughter passed her ‘old’ Apple Watch on to me. I can monitor my heart with mini ECGs as I get a lot of ‘fluttering’ episodes and will be able to send these to my GP if necessary. There’s a wealth of other health- monitoring features which I find invaluable. I wouldn’t be without now.

I have worn a fitbit for a number of years and it encouraged me to be more active and probably helped me get my weight under control, along with medication from my doctor. Sadly my fitbit died this summer and since not wearing one my levels of activity have declined as I no longer have the reminders to tell me to move and give me targets. I need to replace it as I'm aware my fitness is declining. I'm just not sure which one to buy, but I would recommend one to anyone who needs to improve their fitness and monitor their health.

I have an Apple smart watch which is several years old now but I use it constantly to monitor my heart rate when exercising, count steps and nag me not to sit too long. I had a heart attack last year and I find the watch constantly reassuring doing exercise. Anything that gets people fitter should be encouraged to help the NHS.

My grown up offspring number 2 has a smart glucose monitor which alarms if his sugars are too high or low. It'll wake him in the night if he's in any danger and also alerts me so, even if I'm away from home I know there's an issue and he immediately texts me to say he's dealing with it. Gives him a lot of independence. I'm all for these smart devices as long as people are educated and able to use them properly. Trouble is people need the ongoing support from professionals to back it up, it's not just a way to save time for the overstretched NHS.