Sociotechnical alignment in the rise and evolution of a telemedicine constituency in Scotland

The adoption of telematics is proceeding at a painfully slow pace in public administrations and health authorities. This paper tells the story of the emergence and benefits of a telematic-based system in the Scottish health service: telemedicine in Edinburgh and Lothian community maternity care. It looks at the role of visions, the strategies adopted, the role of technology and the tactics implemented to get through the fragile early days, creating new balances of power and favourable conditions for sustained growth. The paper evaluates the impact of the development of a telematic-based system in the Scottish health service and identifies lessons beyond the particularity of the case of maternity care. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.