An app built by NHS surgeon, Owain Hughes is helping GPs and paramedics to screen COVID-19 patients.
The platform, Cinapsis, is being used across the One Gloucestershire Integrated Care System to assess patients as part of their GP appointment, providing consultant advice when needed.
The platform connects GPs and community lead nurses with consultants from the local NHS Trust who can provide advice about a patient’s management in real time. This enables assessments to be made to reduce unnecessary person-to-person contacts and patient trips to hospital.
The referral system can also be used to send messages, images and video to connect primary care clinicians with the right specialist.
The company said 32% of patients with suspected COVID-19 whose GPs or paramedics were able to offer alternatives to hospital care were instead managed at home, playing a key part in Gloucestershire’s COVID-19 response strategy.
Founder and CEO of Cinapsis, Dr Owain Hughes “At this critical time, Cinapsis is making it easier for GPs and emergency healthcare workers to quickly identify the best course of action for any patient exhibiting symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, whether that’s sending them to hospital or ensuring that they receive the care they need within their community.”
“Local specialists can respond to questions from their colleagues in seconds and ensure decisions are made quickly, seamlessly and in the patient’s best interests.”
Dr Malcolm Gerald, lead GP on the Cinapsis project in Gloucestershire “Not only are we helping to reassure and better manage our patients by giving them the benefit of specialist advice, we are also reducing demand on busy hospitals by making properly informed decisions.”
“Our data shows that following discussion with a specialist around a third of COVID-19 patients whose referring clinician had significant concerns about them did not need to be admitted to hospital. This has reduced unnecessary patient, family and staff exposure to the virus, whilst keeping important bed space free for those most in need.”
