Abstract

The study assesses the potential for enhanced community based tele-consultation for stroke patients in the South East-ern Trust area of Northern Ireland. We have used a tele-consultation approach, which can be utilized by a health pro-fessional in conjunction with a scheduled home visit. It pro-vides a synchronous telecommunications link to a consultant neurologist located in the main hospital. Third generation telephony (3G) provides wireless connectivity at ‘mid-broadband’ data rates (128-500kbps), and these services are becoming available in parts of the North Down peninsula. The technical feasibility study has shown that clinical tele-consultations for stroke follow-up is feasible given 3G duplex data rates of 500kbps. Lower rates 200-500kbps can sustain calls, albeit at poorer quality. Services are available in the larger population centres, less so in the more rural areas.