NHS England has chosen seven mental health trusts to pilot digital services aimed at improving care for mental health patients.
The £35m investment from NHS England for the services will be matched by the trusts and provide access to real-time patient records for all professionals involved in a patient’s care.
The seven trusts, known as Global Digital Exemplars, will develop remote, mobile and assistive technologies to enable patients to manage their conditions and allow family and carers to provide the best possible support.
NHS England has chosen seven mental health trusts to pilot digital services aimed at improving care for mental health patients.
The £35m investment from NHS England for the services will be matched by the trusts and provide access to real-time patient records for all professionals involved in a patient’s care.
The seven trusts, known as Global Digital Exemplars, will develop remote, mobile and assistive technologies to enable patients to manage their conditions and allow family and carers to provide the best possible support.
The seven trust that will be receiving funding are:
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
- Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
- Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is developing an app, with Stanford University, to anticipate and respond to serious self-harm and suicide risks.
A prototype has been developed and researchers are exploring the usability of the technology and how the digital platform performs against treatment as usual.
Meanwhile, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is looking to deliver digital patient services including online consultations and enabling patients to access their records, complete assessments and provide feedback on-line.
Professor Tim Kendall, national clinical director for mental health at NHS England and NHS Improvement, said: ‘Many mental health services across the country are already using technology in new and innovative ways to help provide the support people need and reduce pressure on services, including A&E departments.’
He added: ‘This investment will help frontline staff and service users identify those opportunities for new service models enabled by digital technology that make a clear difference to peoples’ lives.’
Nicola Blackwood, minister for public health and innovation, said: ‘In the age of the smartphone, excellent use of information and technology is fundamental to the transformation of the health and care system.
‘The Global Digital Exemplars will be truly world class in supporting high quality care with digital technology, providing a blueprint for excellence, not only to the NHS, but across the world.’
