BT’s Telehealth and Telecare services available through new framework

BT today announced it has been selected to provide telehealth and telecare solutions to the public sector by Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), one of the UK's largest public sector procurement organisations. 

ESPO, on behalf of Pro5, a collaboration between four buying organisations, has developed a framework with three lots; telehealth and telecare equipment; managed services and consultancy services. The framework enables anyone in the public sector to buy telehealth and telecare solutions using an easy, cost effective purchasing route. 

BT is the sole provider of an online catalogue of telecare and telehealth equipment, allowing service commissioners, and also individuals wishing to spend their allocated personal budgets, to simply place an order. As there are innovations in the market place or the needs of users evolve, services can be added or removed from the catalogue. 

Alongside eight other suppliers, BT’s also been selected to provide managed telehealth and telecare services to public sector buyers. The company will build on its experience and expertise in BT Cornwall, a ten year partnership with Cornwall Council, Peninsula Community Health and Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust, where 11,000 telecare and 1,100 telehealth users are already receiving care services from BT. 
In addition, BT will also be able to provide consultancy services and specialist advice to commissioners on telecare and telehealth, and to assist in the development and management of a telehealth or telecare service. 

Ian Dalton, president, BT Global Health, said: “The framework ESPO has put in place allows any public sector body to access our telehealth and telecare services, knowing that they are getting best value and a simple purchasing route. But most important is what it means for patients. Regular monitoring from home helps patients stay independent for longer, and has the potential to help them avoid unnecessary trips to hospital and improve communication with carers and loved ones, improving the quality of care at lower cost. This is a great step forward as BT looks to grow its telehealth and telecare business and become the largest supplier of telehealth services in England.” 

John Doherty, director of ESPO, said: “This new framework, which will run for four years, opens up telehealth and telecare services to everyone in the public services, whether they are from a local authority, the NHS and emergency services, or central government. The framework has already attracted a lot of interest, with the catalogue service up and running in just weeks.” 

Telehealth allows patients with long term health conditions (such as chronic lung or heart disease) to monitor and manage their medical conditions from home, rather than in a clinical or social care setting. Telecare enables users to live independently and securely in their own home, thanks, for example, to alarm pendants that are monitored remotely round-the-clock 365 days of the year. 

Notes 
Public sector organisations can access the online catalogue at www.bt.com/pro5 

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369, email: newsroom@bt.com. 

All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News 

About BT 

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach. 

For the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,103m with reported profit before taxation of £2,315m. 

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. 

For more information, visit www.btplc.com 

About ESPO 
ESPO is one of the UK's largest public sector professional buying organisations. It operates on a not-for-profit cost recovery basis and is committed to delivering best value to its customers, suppliers and local communities. 
Established in 1981 to provide a comprehensive procurement service to the public sector, ESPO has the purchasing power to achieve savings to pass on to customers. The value of ESPO's procurement activity in 2011/12 was more than £1 billion. 
ESPO serves: 
- The Education Sector (Schools, Academies, Colleges and Universities) 
- Local Authorities 
- Central Government Agencies and Ministries 
- The NHS and Emergency Services (Blue Light Sector) 
- The Third Sector including Charities and Voluntary Organisations 

About Pro5 
Pro5 is a collaboration between four public sector buying organisations; CBC, ESPO, NEPO and YPO who have joined forces to deliver sustainable, innovative solutions and unbeatable value to local authority procurement teams. In the face of even greater procurement challenges, Pro5 can make public sector money go further. Our purchasing experience and unique buying ability makes us the perfect procurement partner.