Thousands of people with Parkinson’s disease will be given smartwatches by NHS England so they can be treated effectively from home.
The Parkinson’s Kinetigraph contains sensors that monitor the wearer’s activity, and buzzes to remind them to take medication.
Data is sent to doctors to help detect excessive movement, immobility and sleep disturbances, allowing practitioners to adjust physiotherapy and prescriptions according to the patient’s needs.
John Whipps, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2007 and was one of hundreds of patients who took part in a pilot scheme with the watch, said: “The problem is that Parkinson’s changes from day to day, and even throughout each day.
“Under the traditional system, you have to remember all your concerns and symptoms between visits, ensure you can attend the appointment, have the stress of getting to hospital on time, and then remember to tell your consultant how you are.”
He said of the watch: “It really gives you confidence as you know it gives accurate recordings, and you don’t need to rely so much on your own perception. As the non-motor symptoms begin to be recorded digitally, they will also help doctors track those and inform the healthcare team.”
The NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, said the watch would help improve the quality of life for 120,000 Parkinson’s patients while improving efficiency in the NHS.
She said: “Parkinson’s is an incurable illness that has a significant impact on people’s lives and this small watch will dramatically improve their quality of life – providing a thorough review of their health and ensuring they get the care they need from the comfort of their own homes.
“Not only is it better for these people living with Parkinson’s, but it is also more efficient for the NHS, freeing up space and time in hospitals for our hard-working staff.”
The watch was developed by the NHS in Plymouth and the University of Plymouth. Dr Camille Carroll, the neurology expert who led the pilot, described the invention as “lifechanging”.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said the Kinetigraph was a “fantastic example of how technology is driving cutting-edge innovation in healthcare”.
The watch is not expected to entirely replace face-to-face time between Parkinson’s patients and their doctors. Patients will still be required to fill out questionnaires for their doctors to aid their understanding of possible causes of night-time disturbances that cannot be recorded by the device.
