From the introduction of new apps to the use of robotic systems in surgery and more, let’s take a look at some of the latest stories in health tech.
TigerConnect acquires health technology innovator Twiage
Healthcare collaboration platform, TigerConnect recently announced the acquisition of the health technology innovator Twiage to help with simplifying pre-hospital communication and care coordination between emergency medical services, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
According to TigerConnect, this is key for their broader strategy which aims to “empower health systems by enhancing clinician productivity, strengthening care team connections, making data actionable, and extending care beyond the four walls of the hospital”.
More than 243,000 people have signed up to MyFrimleyHealth Record
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust reports that more than 243,000 patients within the region have now signed up to MyFrimleyHealth Record app, an online platform that provides patients with “personalised and secure” access to their medical records.
The app can be used to book and cancel appointments, attend online consultations, view medications and test results and more recently, to ask questions and receive answers ahead of an appointment. There’s also a function that lets patients give permission for parents, family members or carers to manage care on their behalf.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB reports 61% of registered patients have downloaded NHS App
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB recently reported that 61% of people registered to a GP surgery within the region have downloaded the NHS App. This totals at an estimated 500,000 patients, with 4,500 people downloading it and registering in October 2024.
However, the ICB also notes how uptake of the app remains low in some local areas, including Knowle in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset and Yate in South Gloucestershire. Dr Andrew Appleton, local GP and digital health consultant at One Care, commented: “There are many people in our communities who would benefit from using the NHS app to manage their health. That’s why we’re launching a local campaign to encourage as many people as possible to download the app and turn on notifications.”
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust aims for majority patient portal roll-out by March 2025
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust recently launched a patient portal, allowing patients to view their medical letters and other important hospital correspondence online instead of waiting for them in the post.
The portal has been rolled-out to half of the trust’s departments, and has an aim to see the majority of departments using the system by March 2025.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Chesterfield College launch collaborative multiply programme to help upskill maths and digital growth
Members of staff from Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Chesterfield College have teamed up to create a programme dedicated to supporting maths skills and digital growth.
Specifically built to help develop skills in Microsoft Excel, the Multiply Programme offers both beginner and more advanced learning to support students of all levels. It came about thanks to the results of the latest NHS Staff Survey, which outlined to the trust how some colleagues within their admin and clerical teams would like more support and recognition.
What followed was the creation of a working group called Admin Matters, made up of admin employees from varying roles across the organisation. From this came the ‘Big Conversation’ hosted by the trust to create a discussion around improvements that could be made to enhance the working lives of colleagues. Through this conversation, colleagues expressed a desire for more learning opportunities surrounding the use of digital applications such as Microsoft Excel, to help better aid their job role.
New single point of access service launches in Central and North West London NHS
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust has introduced a new adult community health service to help treat people with physical healthcare problems in their own homes. Known as the Single Point of Access (SPA) service, it allows patients to seek help, advice and support via telephone or email to help “avoid admission into hospital and enable quicker recovery periods”.
The SPA is reportedly available seven days a week and covers a number of services including: district nursing, podiatry, pulmonary rehabilitation, speech and language therapy, early stroke rehabilitation and more.
Clinical trial sees first use of surgical robotic system in operations for children
A 7-year-old boy has become the first child in London to successfully undergo an assisted pyeloplasty operation using the Versius Surgical Robotic System.
Evelina London Children’s Hospital used the robotic system as part of a “landmark clinical trial”, where patient, Rufus Quinn underwent a surgical procedure to correct a blockage at the ureteropelvic junction—the space between the kidney and the tube that drains urine into the bladder.
Versius has four modular arms with a 710-degree range of motion, giving it the ability to operate a miniaturised surgical instrument and control a 3D camera so that a surgeon can see inside the patient. Use of the robotic system reportedly helps to “improve precision” and make operations less invasive. It is already used routinely in adult surgeries, but this is a first for an operation on a child.
More that 100 people from across London come together to share views on NHS as part of 10 Year Health Plan
London has become the latest region to host an event aimed at creating conversation and sharing views on the NHS. This comes as part of the 10 Year Health Plan, with the minister for public health and prevention, Andrew Gwynne, and the chair of NHS England, Richard Meddings, leading the conversation by speaking with locals on “ideas to reshape the NHS”.
With more than 100 people from across London attending, the event was set up as part of a nationwide series of public events aimed at looking for ways to “fix the health service”. There was a particular focus on how best to tackle waiting times, with reports showing that “1.2 million people across the London region are on NHS waiting lists”. Minister, Richard Meddings also visited Great Ormond Street Hospital, which reportedly has a waiting list of 8,000 patients, 200 of which have been waiting over a year. The aim of the visit was also to meet clinicians and consultants and to learn more about their EPR system.
Update on virtual wards from North Cumbria Integrated Care shares current use and future plans for further rollout
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has shared an update on its virtual wards, highlighting that the initiative has “significantly enhanced patient care” and helped alleviate pressures on hospital beds, by “allowing patients to receive high-quality care in the comfort of their own home”.
The update notes that following the successful pilot of the virtual ward concept for respiratory patients in 2023, virtual wards have been rolled out for patients with heart problems, and those living with frailty. These wards have the capacity to support “25 people at any one time”, it continues, with the help of technology and support from a specialist team.
Maria Parsonage, a respiratory consultant nurse at the trust, said: “Since they were launched over 590 patients have been supported by the Virtual Wards and we’re delighted to be part of their continued success.”
The trust is now reportedly looking into the potential for virtual wards to be used in supporting other services, expressing hopes to be able to “roll this out further in the future”.
