In brief: Telemedicine centre shows healthcare future

BT has opened a centre in South Wales to showcase state-of-the-art telemedicine equipment. The telco claims the technology could reduce NHS waiting lists and costs.

Welsh Office Minister, Win Griffiths, was present at the launch as part of the NHS's 50th anniversary celebrations. The Telemedicine Demonstration Centre is among a number of NHS IT initiatives being launched in Cardiff this week, including Lifesign - Europe's first cardiology call centre.

Among the line-up of technology companies displaying their innovations at the BT Centre is STORcomm which develops systems that transmit high-resolution clinical images from remote areas to specialists.

According David Rainey, head of BT's Health Division, telemedicine is set to radically transform the way healthcare is provided across the world.