The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has increased participation in its nurse-led telehealth system for blood pressure monitoring from 285 patients in 2023/24 to 570 patients in the following year.

Patients use a cuff to measure blood pressure at home and send results via text message to a system called Florence, or Flo. Nurses at the Ulster Hospital review the data on a secure clinical dashboard.

Dr Mark Bowman, Clinical Lead for Stroke and Consultant Physician at the South Eastern Trust, stated that the system monitors patients after minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack, where high blood pressure poses a key risk for recurrence. He noted it yields accurate home readings without clinic visits, countering the white coat effect from anxiety in medical settings.

Dr Bowman reported positive patient feedback, with users feeling greater control over their health and appreciating reduced travel needs, especially for older or less mobile individuals.

Initial data from 20 patients showed half needed no treatment changes, 30% started blood pressure medication, and 20% increased existing doses, addressing treatment gaps in 50% of cases.

Dr Loay Abdelnour, Consultant Physician at the South Eastern Trust, said the system prevents further strokes, saving on hospital and rehabilitation costs. Nurses handle enrolment, monitoring, result interpretation, and escalations within an interdisciplinary neurovascular hub.

The system requires only a standard mobile phone, no smartphone, app, or internet. It has been presented at the British Geriatrics Society Conference and the UK Stroke Forum.