Smart solutions: optimising paediatric ear and hearing care using teleotology.

OBJECTIVES

Paediatric ear and hearing services in the UK are currently facing significant challenges leading to increased waiting times for patients. This letter aims to explore teleotology, focusing on ear health care delivered via telemedicine, as a potential solution to alleviate service pressures and improve care delivery.

METHODS

The current state of paediatric ear and hearing services in the UK was reviewed and the potential for teleotology to improve service delivery by reducing face-to-face consultations and improving triage processes was explored.

RESULTS

Evidence from studies conducted in adults in the UK suggests that teleotology can optimise the allocation of resources, ensure timely treatment, and enhance the quality of care, aligning with the NHS Long Term Plan and recommendations from the GIRFT report.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from adult teleotology are encouraging, but further research is required to demonstrate the efficacy of teleotology for children and young people in NHS settings.