Technology from Formula One to be used in healthcare trial

By using the same technology that helped Jenson Button to win the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday, the NHS is on the verge of a breakthrough that could revolutionise healthcare and cut millions off the health budget. NHS Surrey spends £40-100 million a year on its 6,000 most expensive patients. By employing the technology pioneered at the McLaren factory near Woking for Button’s car, its conservative estimate is that it will save £10-20 million. McLaren hope that, having conquered Surrey, the scheme can go nationwide.

When Button turned on his engine in Melbourne, his attempt to retain the World Championship title was relying on feedback during the race from 300 data streams that told his team how well he and his car were performing. McLaren have adapted this system of live feedback from their cars to the man on the street. The science is called live telemetry. McLaren receive their 300 data streams via miniaturised sensors on the car and the driver. At the most basic level, this data will tell them, for instance, the heart rate of the driver and the fuel level in the car.



If, for instance, a patient is released from hospital having suffered a heart problem, the McLaren technology can employ wireless sensors the size of sticking plasters that will send, via the internet to the doctor or clinician responsible, a continuous record of the patient’s heart rate and electrocardiogram, the graph that monitors the heartbeat. And rather than have the doctor permanently monitoring numerous data streams, the software can be set up so that when any patient’s heart rate, or weight, or blood levels — or whatever is being recorded — go above or below a certain level, it can alert the doctor with an e-mail or text message.

The most obvious possibilities for advancements in healthcare are twofold. First, it will allow doctors to keep better care of their patients. Second, it will allow hospitals to free up beds because, rather than feel the need to keep patients in for observation, they will be able to observe those patients remotely. NHS Surrey hopes to be using the new technology by the end of the year. Maitland Hyslop, the director of market management and development at NHS Surrey, said: “If we can use the sensors in this way, we can anticipate a lot of our patients’ requirements and give them better and more individual care. We would have a better way of looking after people and save a lot of money. It’s a win-win situation.”