Wales to extend telemedicine to rural areas

The Welsh Assembly Government said that 13 local projects will receive shares of £825,000 from the fund, which aims to improve access to health and social care services in rural areas through the use of new technology. It said it wants to extend telemedicine across non-urban areas "to improve quality of care and keep healthcare local, reducing travel time for patients and health professionals". The relevant projects will receive £525,000 from the fund, with a further £200,000 for the Hywel Dda and Powys Health Board areas to pilot integrated models of care between health and social care. The government said that £100,000 will also be allocated for national coordination and evaluation of the rural innovation projects, and that the remaining funding will be used to support innovation emerging from the Rural Health Implementation Plan. Other projects that will receive money include: tele-rehabilitation video conferencing in North Wales; an electronic link between x-ray departments at hospitals in Mid-Wales; and the implementation of community hubs in South and West Wales. "The range of projects funded will help develop new ways of providing services, improving access to services for those living in rural areas. I expect that people will see a real difference as these projects are developed," said health minister Edwina Hart. "I look forward to receiving further recommendations over the coming months on how to utilise the remaining funding."