The Isle of Wight can emerge from the COVID-19 outbreak as a renowned centre of innovation and technological know-how, local MP Bob Seely believes.
Bob has said he is proud that the Isle of Wight is leading the way with 3 new Government-led initiatives using technology in the fight against disease and to improve health care.
The latest initiative is using drones to convey medical supplies from the mainland to St Mary’s, with the first landing taking place last weekend. The historical landing at Binstead Airfield came just a week after the Island pioneered the testing and tracing app.
Last summer, the Island was awarded a grant of £48 million to help the Island develop advances in healthcare such as the telehealth box allowing patients to monitor their own health at home and tele swallowing where Speech and Language Therapists can talk to patients online.
Many other local companies, including members of the Island Technology Group, have embarked on their own initiatives to use high-tech know-how in the fight against COVID-19.
Bob has said the way the Island’s high-tech industries and been joined by residents in leading the fight against COVID-19 is something of which the Island should be proud.
“I’m delighted that the Island is part of this pioneering approach using new technology to improve quality of life and potentially saves lives.
Article continues below this advertisement “I hope that the drones will help us get PPE and other equipment to the Island faster and cheaper than other methods of transportation. I also hope that they can help speed up diagnoses by cutting out time spent journeying on ferries and roads.
“The drone and telemedicine trials are helping to transform IW health services and the quality of life for Islanders. With these new forms of technology there will be a reduced need for Islanders to travel to the mainland, or indeed St Mary’s, which will improve their quality of life and get them quicker access to some healthcare services. It will also make better use of NHS staff time.
“We are a community full of ideas, know-how and a willingness to embrace new technology. Any lazy and unjust notion that we are somehow slow in moving with the times in terms of technology have thankfully been laid bare by recent events.
“The Isle of Wight is leading the way. I want more pilot schemes that can benefit Islanders and I want the Island to be at the forefront of NHS technology leading the rest of the country.”
can bob tell us how many who register the apps are on the island and how many elsewhere
hahaha can pigs fly
Just another blah blah moment
Bob, take how about mentioning something positive to the people who live here. Always banging on business, tourism and all the typical, Thatcher, Cameron and May era Tory politics. I’m not a tory but, I think Boris is doing a good job so far. Why not announce Bob that you will do a workshop once this has died down a bit, and engage with the “normal” working people of the Isle of Wight.
Nice thought, but when this is all over we’ll go back to being neglected again by government. Apart from the developers of course.
can bob seely explain why he thinks its safe for school staff and children to go back to school ,but not so for the council or parliament to sit .and could he also justify drawing his salary plus 10k to help him work from home while everyone else is feeling the pressure.
Send all the kids back to school
Get normality back