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No ECG for UK series 4?

KennethS said:
If AliveCot can sell this in the UK, I don't see why the delay for Apple to allow UK users to make use of the feature on the S4:

https://shop.gb.alivecor.com/products/kardiamobile

I bought a Kardia more than a year ago, and there are no restrictions on the ability to purchase them here. I found it odd when they said during the keynote yesterday that the feature of the Apple Watch is the first of its kind...
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Possibly because Apple want a device that’s approved and accepted by the medical authorities before it goes into the wild so that the ECG results can be relied upon by doctors rather than being just a guide for a user ? I’m not saying that is the reason but as an outsider that’s my thoughts :)
 
ukms said:
Possibly because Apple want a device that’s approved and accepted by the medical authorities before it goes into the wild so that the ECG results can be relied upon by doctors rather than being just a guide for a user ? I’m not saying that is the reason but as an outsider that’s my thoughts :)
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You have a point. And that could be why Apple say they are the first.
 
Joshoon said:
The technology will probably be inside of the watch but not usable with a software restriction, but I do believe that it might be enabled when you change region in settings, but we must try that first.

I wonder if my country (The Netherlands) will allow it too.
I doubt it, since the Dutch government isn't really cooperative when it comes to stuff like that.
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Hard to fathom that a government would not allow what could save people's lives
 
lyndarose said:
Just checked UK site and this is on webpage


Electrodes built into the Digital Crown and the back crystal work together with the ECG app to read your heart’s electrical signals. Simply touch the Digital Crown to generate an ECG waveform in just 30 seconds. This data can indicate whether your heart rhythm shows signs of atrial fibrillation — a serious form of irregular heart rhythm — or sinus rhythm, which means your heart is beating in a normal pattern.ECG app coming later this year.
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i can see that text on the US apple website but no in the UK. Are you sure the location is correct?
 
Newtons Apple said:
Hard to fathom that a government would not allow what could save people's lives
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I went on Apple chat to see if I could get more information. The advisor did not know, she spoke to her supervisor who did not know if the ECG would be available in UK. She then arranged a call back via phone for someone else to ring me. She had not got a clue either, she then put me through to a sales technician, he did not know and had to get someone else. he said it would be available in the UK eventually but they had no idea when or if it would be the year or next!

Not looking good.
 
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lyndarose said:
I went on Apple chat to see if I could get more information. The advisor did not know, she spoke to her supervisor who did not know if the ECG would be available in UK. She then arranged a call back via phone for someone else to ring me. She had not got a clue either, she then put me through to a sales technician, he did not know and had to get someone else. he said it would be available in the UK eventually but they had no idea when or if it would be the year or next!

Not looking good.
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Hopefully when the respective governments looks at it, they will allow.
 
caspergirl said:
i can see that text on the US apple website but no in the UK. Are you sure the location is correct?
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It does say UK on the top of the page but with all the messing about I have done it says US on the bottom, I have re booted and now I can't see it either.
 
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lyndarose said:
It does say UK on the top of the page but with all the messing about I have done it says US on the bottom, I have re booted and now I can't see it either.
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this is what i thought but you know, i said maybe its me that i cant find it so lets ask.

i hope that either eu approves it fast or it will be easy to switch region on the watch in order to use ECG without the need to switch the app store region in the iphone
 
Can you imagine the long line of Apple Watch hypochondriacs queuing up at NHS hospitals? I hope this feature doesn't make it to the UK, more a gimmick.
 
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ukms said:
Possibly because Apple want a device that’s approved and accepted by the medical authorities before it goes into the wild so that the ECG results can be relied upon by doctors rather than being just a guide for a user ? I’m not saying that is the reason but as an outsider that’s my thoughts :)
Click to expand...

According to the AliveCor website, their device is "FDA cleared", whatever that means. I do know my cardiologist recommended it to me here in the UK, which is why I purchased one.
 
Not sure what to think
 

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So it's just the 'app' technically that they won't be launching at the same time as the US?

How's that work..
 
KennethS said:
According to the AliveCor website, their device is "FDA cleared", whatever that means. I do know my cardiologist recommended it to me here in the UK, which is why I purchased one.
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Clearest description I could find...

“Clearance requests are for medical devices that are exactly like those already on the market. Approved requests are for items that are completely new and need to be inspected for safety in case of new hazards.”
 
i guess that function will be "locked" in the same way as the pride face in Russia. Apple doesnt really care if eu customers will have access or not. It is not something who wants to lock for her own sake, it is just a technicality of the countries.
i dont know if i explain my thought in a clear way, but in essence i want to point that apple limits ECG in europe not because it wants to but because is forced to. So they will not try to safeguard the access to this feature
 
KennethS said:
According to the AliveCor website, their device is "FDA cleared", whatever that means. I do know my cardiologist recommended it to me here in the UK, which is why I purchased one.
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Fair enough ...... out if interest does he use the ECG’s that’s it generates or is it for your own peace of mind ?

Quick search reveals there is a difference between “FDA Cleared” and “FDA approved” (which the S4is apparently) no idea what the difference is.
 
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ukms said:
Fair enough ...... out if interest does he use the ECG’s that’s it generates or is it for your own peace of mind?
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I was diagnosed with A-Fib a few years back, but I have it just to check on myself. At my annual checkup he uses a proper ECG and doesn't pay much attention to my own readings. I like gadgets and he suggested I might find it useful but for actual clinical evaluation I don't think it would be appropriate to rely in it.

What it could be useful for, and the reason I applaud Apple for incorporating these sort of things in the watch, is to tip someone off that there MAY be an issue. I wish I had known I had A-Fib before the event that ended up causing it to be spotted (a mini-stroke).
 
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I'm actually looking forward about this feature ECG but i'm still wondering about EU regulation, how do we know once they get approved?
 
I knew of this before purchase but I previously had the Cellular version not on an EE and never bothered me, I just only changed networks last month from O2 to EE to take advantage of the watch ability’s

If the ECG is not approved at first then it’s no biggy, I was upgrading anyway for all the other features and I’m happy :)
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chumps52 said:
Not sure what to think
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Is that advisor sitting in Mumbai :p
[doublepost=1536928838][/doublepost]Although we won’t be able to use the ECG functionality can the watch still alarm us to an irregular heart pattern, so at least we still have this and can call in to doctors?
 
I assume it will be at some point, though obviously as the US is the main market they'll have concentrated on getting FDA approval first. I'd assume NICE would need to be the ones to approve its use here.
 
I was an hour ago in an UK Apple store. I don't want to say the area because it will be easy to identify persons. I asked about the ECG and the girl there told me "sorry not available in EU for unkown time frame" I noticed that her name was Greek (I'm Greek)and I tried to discuss with her in Greek off the record.

She told me, I'm not allowed to say that but if you are in the UK and change the location settings to the US(of course when ecg is available in the USA) the ECG will work just fine. Nothing more needed.
This is applicable only for the gps models not the cellular
 
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