NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB has awarded a contract to health tech supplier, eConsult Health, for the provision of a digital consultation tool to be used throughout GP practices within the region.
By using the online or video consultations tool, the ICB hopes to “meet the digital pathways capabilities that support modernising general practice”, which forms part of their wider digital strategy to 2032 where they plan to “use technology to improve patient care”.
The contract with eConsult Health begins in October 2025, lasting for 12 months with the option to extend another year if needed and an estimated value of up to £382,680.
In a recent update from the ICB, they identified several opportunities for improving digital and remote monitoring as part of their Hospital at Home service. This includes a virtual assistant AI tool, reportedly being considered to support the workforce, with a business case being prepared to “ensure further progress and sign up”.
Remote monitoring and virtual consultation: the wider trend
For a recent HTN Now webinar, we welcomed OX.DH founder John Kosobucki, who shared his insights into best practices around virtual consultations and user adoption, as well as using the national Microsoft tenant. He presented a number of case studies from OX.DH’s OX. waiting room component, demonstrating key learnings and success stories.
South East London ICB plans to award its virtual wards contracts, with a value of £3.5 million, to Doccla UK and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, spanning services across NHS@Home and Virtual Plus Health Monitoring. The service is set to begin on 1 October 2025, covering a 30 month duration, with the option for an extension for an additional year.
In July, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Procurement Services opened a market engagement for a digital platform that can support self-management and remote monitoring. The solution should be able to provide real-time test results, educational materials and two-way messaging for clinicians and patients.
A recent evaluation of the Hospital at Home approach revealed that 95.8 percent of patients cared for by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals Trust’s Virtual Hospital, prefer using virtual hospital models. The study was conducted by Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust, with key findings showing that the trust had saved a total of £1.33 million between April 2023 and April 2024, thanks to the Hospital at Home service.
