PATIENTS will be able to keep a check on their health from their own sofa when a revolutionary new system comes on line in North Yorkshire.

The Telehealthcare technology will see electronic units installed in people’s homes to monitor their condition – with the scheme set to be rolled out next month.

The devices will take readings such as blood pressure, oxygen levels, weight and temperature and will also quiz the patient about their well-being.

This information will then be automatically sent to a monitoring centre, where any problems or abnormalities in a patient’s condition can be identified at an early stage.

The first Telehealthcare phase will involve 100 units being put in place in homes in York, Selby, Whitby, Hambleton and Richmondshire.

The roll-out will start in October and continue throughout the next 12 months, and those suffering from heart conditions will be the main focus of the initial phase.

“Telehealthcare has the potential to make a real difference for patients with long-term conditions,” said David Cockayne, NHS North Yorkshire and York’s director of strategy.

“Although the general health of the population in North Yorkshire and York compares very well on a national scale, statistics show that we do have high levels of hospital admissions for people suffering long-term conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure.

“All of these could potentially be avoided if we had a way to identify that their condition was deteriorating on a daily basis.

“Spotting the warning signs early means we can act to prevent their condition getting any worse and ultimately reduce the chance of them needing hospital treatment.”

The trust also hopes the new technology – funded by the organisation together with NHS Yorkshire and Humber, Yorkshire Coast and Moors Consortium and York Health Group, among other partners – will cut down on the need for patients from outlying areas to make journeys for appointments.

Mr Cockayne said: “Telehealthcare makes it possible for patients to have all their readings taken from the comfort of their own home, making it not only more convenient for the patient, but also giving them the peace of mind that early warning signs of their condition worsening will be identified and acted upon.”