Our latest news in brief takes a look at some of the important health tech stories that have caught our eye recently. From new neonatal apps to virtual wards and more, find out what’s going on across healthcare in the UK.
DIALOG+ tool helps trust learn more about patient mental health
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health FT have been using an online tool known as DIALOG+ to ask patients about various aspects of life that have had an impact on their mental and physical wellbeing. The trust notes how this questionnaire has helped drive “impactful conversations” between patients and their healthcare providers and “makes it easier to collaborate with her service users to identify their needs”.
Now, all community mental health teams within the trust are reportedly using this tool to learn more about an individual’s family, relationships, leisure activities, accommodation as well as their physical and mental health.
Neonatal app goes live at Royal Bolton Hospital
Royal Bolton Hospital’s Neonatal Unit recently launched a new app designed to keep parents updated and involved in their baby’s care. The new app, known as vCreate allows parents and families to view video and photo updates related to their baby, even when they’re unable to be on the unit. They can also ask questions and get important updates about their baby’s progress.
Online self-referral form launches in the South West for people struggling with gambling addiction
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust have launched the South West Gambling Service. The online self-referral form provides specialist therapy for people affected by the impacts of gambling and works in partnership with Mental Health Matters, H2CD, Togetherall, Dr Julian and Intuitive Thinking Skills.
According to recent Gambling Commission figures, a reported 130,000 people across the UK could be experiencing problems due to gambling. When discussing this matter, Chris Gillmore, clinical lead for the South West Gambling Service said: “Sadly, there is still a lot of stigma associated with addictions, which can prevent some people from seeking help. By being able to self-refer online we hope we have made accessing our service even easier, and encourage people to come forward and get the help they need.”
East Cheshire NHS Trust’s virtual ward success
East Cheshire NHS Trust reported a total of 1,335 patients receiving specialised care from their own homes since the launch of their virtual ward back in 2023. Led by a team of advanced clinical practitioners, community nurses, therapists, and rapid response care providers, the virtual ward includes services tailored to various patient needs. This includes IV therapy at home, general medical care, palliative support, urgent community responses, triage, GP visits, and district nursing services. The trust noted how this has “significantly reduced the need for hospital admissions” and “improved patient outcomes”.
1,568 patients receive Hospital at Home care in East Lancashire
A similar story has come out of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, where they claim “more patients than ever” are being cared for in their own homes thanks to the trust’s virtual wards programme. According to the trust, their Hospital at Home approach has led to of 1,568 patients being given the necessary equipment to be monitored, supported and treated at home.
Other notable improvements include: more requests for support by care homes, reducing the number of people who may have been taken to hospital by ambulance; and assessing over 1,000 patients in their homes within two hours of a request.
Harrogate and District NHS FT receives £1.4 million for an additional MRI scanner to support AI research
Harrogate and District NHS FT recently received a £1.4 million investment from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) for an additional MRI scanner to support research with a “particular focus” on the role of AI to aid diagnosis. The trust was one of 36 NHS organisations in England to receive this type of funding from the NIHR, following a recent call for bids to improve access to research studies in smaller hospitals in England.
Virtual hospital tour goes live in Middlesborough to ease patients
Middlesborough Hospital has just launched a virtual tour of key areas within the Dalesway unit at Roseberry Park, to help “ease the anxiety of patients” before they visit. This includes a 3D walkthrough of the reception, corridors, and café, allowing you to move through these areas by clicking on the different locations. So far, the tour is currently made up of photos and information about Dalesway, with plans to potentially update it in the future to include maps and videos of the area.
Should the tour prove successful, it could be rolled out to “at least ten” other Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation sites, with senior administrator Dawn Teeley commenting: “we have already had some great feedback from people, who are really positive and supportive about the project. It’s great to see it finally become reality”.
