Telemedicine links local hospital with specialists in London

29 June 1999

Modern technology is shrinking the distance between the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and Guy's Hospital in London for the benefit of local children with heart problems.

A pilot scheme has been set up which will allow Consultant Paediatrician Dr David Mabin to discuss a child's heart problems with Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist Dr Rob Tulloh at Guy's Hospital without him leaving his desk or the young patient having to travel to London.

This is all made possible thanks to ‘Telemedicine'. Using an ultra sound echocardiogram in the West Suffolk Hospital a heart scan is recorded directly on to a mini optical disc. Video pictures and stills are then examined on a computer using a special software programme and selected images e-mailed to Guy's Hospital.

There is no paediatric cardiology at the West Suffolk Hospital and so children have to be referred to Guy's Hospital or the Brompton Hospital in London for treatment. This usually involves several trips to the capital for a scan to see what the problem is and then again for the operation. These trips are very traumatic for the young patient and the family.

Dr Mabin explained how the use of Telemedicine can help to reduce the travelling and support his diagnosis of difficult cases.

"If a young patient has a heart problem I can carry out a heart scan and e-mail the images to Dr Tulloh for a second opinion," said Dr Mabin.

"If surgery is required the child can be put straight on to the waiting list or be seen immediately which ever is most appropriate, speeding up the referral process and saving the stress, time and cost of an ambulance trip to London."

Before the electronic links were established children had to travel to London for the heart scan or wait to see Dr Tulloh at an outpatients clinic at the West Suffolk Hospital which is held every three months.

During the pilot period children will continue to travel to London for a scan to enable the doctors to check the safety and accuracy of the links.