A PIONEERING dementia study aiming to transform support for people with dementia and their carers in Surrey using new technologies has been voted the Best Mental Health Initiative of 2017 by a panel of healthcare and IT experts at the annual ehi Awards.

The TIHM for dementia study, led by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and involving a collaboration of partners, beat off strong competition to win the award which was presented to members of the TIHM for dementia team, at the NEC Birmingham, on October 31.

TIHM (Technology Integrated Health Management) for dementia uses new technologies allowing clinicians to remotely monitor a person’s health and safety round the clock and in real time.

If a problem is identified the clinicians can step in to offer support.

TIHM is one of seven test beds funded by the Department of Health that is looking at new ways to deliver treatment and care for people with long term and complex health needs.

The ehi Awards judging panel, co-chaired by Dr Joe McDonald, Connected Health Cities’ director and Chief Clinical Information Officer at Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, praised Surrey and Borders Partnership for “demonstrating a broad range of interoperability in mental health” and said they were “impressed” with the positive feedback they had seen from people who have been trialling the TIHM for dementia technology.

Dr Helen Rostill, director of innovation and development at Surrey the trust, told The Herald: “We are delighted to have won the Best Mental Health initiative at the ehi Awards. Our TIHM for dementia study is pioneering the use of new technologies to support people with dementia and their carers and to be recognised for what we have achieved by a panel of industry leaders at this flagship event is a great achievement.”

To find out more about TIHM for dementia, go to www.sabp.nhs.uk/tihm