Airedale Hospital’s pioneering telemedicine service is being extended to help care home residents across Calderdale and Huddersfield.

Eighteen homes will be linked up to the system on a trial basis in a bid to reduce hospital admissions and people using A&E. Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust funded the installation.

The telehealth hub, run by Airedale NHS Foundation Trust’s specialist nurses, offers round-the-clock medical help via a secure video link.

Airedale Hospital is working with its technical partner, Involve, to roll out the service to a total of about 200 nursing and residential homes this winter.

John Rayner, of the Calderdale and Huddersfield trust, said: “The telemedicine service provides care home staff and patients with immediate access to expert clinical advice that in many cases means a trip to the hospital can be avoided.

“Airedale was the obvious and ideal partner for us because of the trust’s experience in delivering a service that has demonstrated success.”