A new chatbot function has been launched on the NHS Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull Talking Therapies website, designed to take website visitors through an online conversation and exercises to process referrals to the service.
Once the referral is completed, patients are encouraged to download the ‘Everyday Mental Health’ app, which links to the chatbot and provides personalised support such as weekly reports and progress tracking, chatbot conversations and customisable check-in times. The trust describes the app as “emotionally intelligent”, stating that it can “detect immediate risk” and provide appropriate support for people waiting to begin therapy sessions.
Information garnered through the chatbot is also automatically populated in the patient record, with the trust highlighting how this reduces the need for patients to repeat information.
Sonya Gardiner, chief operating officer for NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, commented that the goal is to “enable clinicians’ to dedicate more time to patient care” with the tech helping to achieve this “by providing a summary of key information for clinicians to review before initial triage appointments. This innovative approach will ensure those in need of mental health support will be able to rapidly access the most appropriate support for their needs, from their phone or PC.”
Mental health in the spotlight
HTN explored the most recent NHS England board meeting here, with conversation touching upon data for mental health care, and plans to publish full community mental health metrics in autumn this year.
In July we highlighted how Norfolk and Waveney ICB seeks expressions of interest from suppliers for the provision of a digital offer for children and young people’s mental health, with a total value over a potential three years of £1.17 million.
Earlier in the year HTN reported how Papyrus collaborated with ORCHA to develop an app library containing “trusted apps” for young people to use to access advice on mental health; and we looked into research on the attitudes and experiences of current and potential users of digital mental health technology.
Also from the region
HTN recently examined data from Coventry and Warwickshire ICS on tackling health inequalities through a virtual hub as well as data around supporting people at home and improving efficiencies around cardiology care.
We also noted how PhD students from Coventry University are developing digital solutions aiming to help improve healthcare access in low to middle income countries, supported by researchers from the university’s Centre for Intelligent Healthcare and its digital health social enterprise spinout Hope 4 The Community CIC.
Additionally, July saw HTN cover the news that a new system-wide electronic referral service for community opticians has been launched across Coventry and Warwickshire, enabling opticians to send referrals for patients in need of further investigation or treatment to a single point of access.
From Solihull, we reported on a study aiming to improve care of people living with psychosis and multimorbidities by utilising “novel methods of engagement” such as digital tools; and we explored the 10-year strategy from Birmingham and Solihull ICS, which highlights the role of data in tackling inequalities, identifying opportunities for intervention, and enhancing understanding of areas of shared priority.
