'Telemedicine' video link shows worth

By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter

Health workers at an Auckland conference had a taste of "telemedicine" video links between hospitals yesterday.

Video pictures of a foetus in Brisbane were transmitted to a conference-room screen at the Auckland Town Hall.

The pictures came from an ultrasound scan, performed on a woman pregnant with twins, at the Mater Mothers' Hospital.

Dr Chris Occleshaw, a Green Lane Hospital cardiac radiologist who watched the link-up, said the foetus shown was receiving too much blood.

With twins sharing a placenta, one foetus could receive too much blood, leading to a fluid build-up around the heart, which could stop it pumping properly. The other foetus could receive insufficient blood and not grow properly.

The heart of the featured Brisbane foetus was still pumping properly, said Dr Occleshaw.

Telemedicine was potentially very useful, he said. "It was an excellent-quality scan. We were very happy with the quality of the images."

Dr Nigel Wilson, Green Lane's clinical director of paediatric cardiology, said the hospital was keen to set up telemedicine links with the Starship and other hospitals.

His department serves the whole country.

"In selected cases we could [use video link-ups]. Rather than have the videotape sent up and wait a day or two for the answer, we could get an instant online decision about whether someone needs to be moved [to Green Lane]."

A few telemedicine links have already been set up, including in the Waikato.

The Starship Foundation is raising money and working with doctors to set up a national telemedicine network.