TF3 consortium receives ECCH contract to provide RNTI

The TF3 consortium has been chosen to provide a Remote Telemonitoring Service to Northern Ireland (RNTI) which will support over 8,000 patients during the course of the contract.

The consortium, comprising Tunstall Healthcare, Fold Housing Association and S3 Group, is the largest provider of remote telemonitoring solutions in Northern Ireland and is actively involved in over 80 dedicated telehealth initiatives in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The contract was awarded by the European Centre for Connected Health (ECCH) in the Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland, with a £18M investment in the management of long-term conditions.

The Minister for Health, Michael McGimpsey made the announcement at a launch event on Wednesday 16^th March. He said: "This is a wonderful achievement for the health service in Northern Ireland. The demographic and budget pressures we face mean that the health service will have to find new and better ways to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality service. There is no doubt that remote telemonitoring is a prime example of the innovation that will be required. "This new service will mean a better experience and better outcomes for many of our patients, with earlier interventions when they have a flare-up and fewer spells in hospital."

TF3 will begin implementation of remote telemonitoring services for people with heart and respiratory conditions, diabetes and those who have suffered a stroke, from March 2011.

Jon Lowe, TF3 managing director said: "This is a truly large-scale initiative aimed at modernising health and care delivery in Northern Ireland, and improving outcomes for people with chronic diseases. We are honoured that ECCH has chosen us as a long-term partner. The managed services the TF3 Consortium will provide are key to minimising unplanned hospital admissions, accelerating discharge and improving patient care through remote monitoring."

Patient and clients accessing the new services will be identified by a variety of methodologies appropriate to each disease area, including patients who frequently access the service and whose care will benefit from home monitoring; those whose conditions are deteriorating; and those whose discharge from hospital could be accelerated by accessing the service.