A woman has praised Airedale Hospital’s remote video link in helping to ease her terminally ill husband’s final months.

Jane Walton, who cared for her husband Geoff at their home, applauded the hospital’s “wonderful” telemedicine service at the latest meeting of the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust board of governors. She stressed that Geoff wanted to spend his last days at home, rather than in hospital.

Airedale’s video link means seriously ill people do not need to struggle into hospital to be diagnosed or receive important medical advice.

“I dread to think how I would have managed without the telemedicine,” said Mrs Walton, who lives at Cross Roads.

Her husband died last March at the age of 84.

Speaking at a recent board meeting, Mrs Walton said her husband had been seriously ill with a number of different illnesses.

“From September 2011 he was so ill it was very difficult for him to be taken to hospital for appointments,” she said. “It was suggested that we consider having telemedicine installed in our home. We had it put into our bedroom, so Geoff could have consultations without leaving his bed.

“At the touch of a button a familiar face is in front of you on a television screen. This became important to me and gave me the courage and confidence to cope with his illness.”

She applauded the staff manning the telemedicine link for the professional support and companionship they offered.

“Telemedicine is a fantastic way of communicating with housebound patients and is so easy to use for those who aren’t good with new technology,” she said.