West Middlesex University Hospital pilots wireless vital signs tech

West Middlesex University Hospital is piloting a wireless monitoring system using wearable technology.

The project is currently in its pilot stage, funded by Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s charity CW+, but the hospital hopes to be able to roll it out further across its wards during 2017.

By placing sensors in the form of patches – which include ECG electrodes – on various areas of the patient’s body, clinicians can monitor the patient’s heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature.

The information from the patches is sent wirelessly to a screen so clinicians can look at the information without disturbing the patient. The data can also be integrated with the trust’s electronic patient record system.

Vital signs are traditionally checked by nurses around every six to eight hours, but the system by SensiumVitals means patients can be monitored much more regularly as readings are sent from the patches to the system every few minutes.

Lawrence Petalidis, head of innovation and impact for CW+, said the pilot is an “innovative project addressing key NHS challenges”, such as early detection of patient deterioration and sepsis prevention, which is key in post-surgery patients.

He added that the charity is “delighted” to support the hospital in its “evaluation of a new wearable technology”. 

“It is such projects combining trust strategic priorities, disruptive innovation and significant patient benefit potential that we are keen to be part of,” he said. 

Sadia Khan, a consultant cardiologist at the trust, said she was looking forward “to exploring how this technology will improve both the care and experience for our staff and, more importantly, our patients”.