New technology Imerjes for Victoria Hospital

Blackpool’s Victoria Hospital is currently trialling an innovative Video as a Service (VaaS) solution in its speech and language therapy (SLT) department.

The pioneering use of video technology, developed by IT solutions and telehealth specialist, Imerja, enables specialist medical staff to remotely assess the swallowing mechanism of nursing home patients post stroke; providing accessible care as well as rapid response service should they experience difficultly when eating or drinking.

Blackpool Victoria Hospital, which is part of the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has a dedicated SLT department, which provides support to a significant number of patients each year across Lancashire, with sessions ranging from swallowing assessment to group communication therapy.

As well as this proof of concept, Imerja’s VaaS offering is currently undergoing a number of other trials in hospitals across the North West, including the renal department at Lancashire Teaching Hospital and the paediatric neurology department at Alder Hey Hospital.

Veronica Southern, principle speech and language therapist at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, said: “The video solution offers great diagnostic clarity through hig- quality video and audio links complete with zoom, pan and tilt capability.

“Hospital visits are often distressing for elderly patients, but with this telehealth technology we’re able to provide our patients with timely support and a high level of care, while reducing costly hospital admissions and time-consuming home visits by clinicians.”

Ian Jackson, managing director of Imerja, added: “We’re acutely aware of the difficulties that the NHS is facing at the moment and we believe that innovative technology can significantly reduce this burden.

“The VaaS solution is incredibly adaptable and it has the potential to provide a large variety of clinical disciplines and hospital departments across the country with a flexible and efficient healthcare solution.”