Andrew Lansley has called upon health professionals to provide ideas for new ‘health apps’ to put patients more in control of their care.
The Department of Health said the applications, to be used with smartphones or tablet computers, should relate to one of five themes: personalisation and choice of care and support; better health and care outcomes; autonomy and accountability; improving public health and improving long-term care and support.
“We want to give people better access to information that will put them in control of their health and help make informed choices about their healthcare,” said Mr Lansley.
“Over the next six weeks, we want to hear from patients, health professionals and budding app developers on their ideal new app. This is a unique opportunity for the NHS and those who develop apps to not only showcase their work but bring to life new ideas and realise true innovation in healthcare.”
The health secretary cited the ‘Choosing Well’ app as an existing example of what could be done. The app, developed by NHS Yorkshire and Humber, enables people to search for their nearest NHS services.
Health professionals have six weeks to respond with their ideas before they are judged by a panel including Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director, Dr Shaibal Roy, Investigator at the National Institute for Health Research and Jennie Ritchie-Campbell, Director of Cancer Services Innovation at Macmillan Cancer Support.
A group of apps will then be showcased at an event during the autumn.
Your comments (terms and conditions apply):
“Few App ideas for Primary care… For Patients
1. Computerised CBT (prescribable app for mild depression /anxiety etc)
2. Self help starter packs with online links etc for early depression/anxiety
3. Customisable Diabetic Care Plans for individual patients with alerts & signposting for different situations.
4. Similar one for asthma.
5. For ambulatory BP monitoring
6. For 24 hour ECG which presently needs overnight hospital stay.
7. For sleep studies ( also requires overnight hospital stay)
8. Similar customisable apps could be developed for any Long Term Condition which could be tailormade to individual patients” – Dr Latha Amma, Chelmsford
“Students and colleagues here at Imperial College London – Department of Primary Care & Public Health, are working on a smart phone app for improving the management of care for sickle cell disease patients” – Elizabeth Dubois, London
