Recovering COVID-19 patients given devices to spot dips in oxygen levels

Those recovering from Covid-19 are to be given devices which can help spot dips in their blood oxygen-levels while they recover at home.

The NHS is trialling the use of oximeters, combined with an app, which will make it easier to spot whether people need to be re-admitted to hospital.

The new oximeter service is being tested with more than 150 patients in sites on Watford, Hertfordshire and north London.

Clinicians in ‘virtual wards’ are able to track patients’ vital signs – including temperature, heart rate and blood oxygen saturation – in near real-time, receiving alerts if they suggest a patient is deteriorating so that further assessments and care can be arranged.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “While we restore face to face NHS services too, new innovations will ensure patients can benefit from the comfort of home, with the reassurance that they can be fast tracked to support from the NHS should they need. NHS at Home will help keep people safe and out of hospital while providing the best possible care.”

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Source: Digital Health, 5 June 2020