University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with University College London, has launched the MENO.pause app, a digital tool aimed at supporting clinicians with decision-making when it comes to managing menopause symptoms.
The web-based app was funded by North Central London Cancer Alliance, UCLH Charity, BGCS and GSK and has been designed for use during primary care and hospital consultations. Clinicians answer a series of questions around a patient’s symptoms, medical history and genetic variations, after which the app provides different options for helping the patient based on “menopause management guidelines”.
According to the trust, MENO.pause works alongside existing data and clinical systems, and offers guidance on a wide variety of areas, including length of treatment, over-the-counter supplements, information for less complex menopause symptoms and advice on optimising HRT treatment, while highlighting when urgent hospital referral or further investigation is needed. It also “supports women with complex health conditions, providing treatment options for those going through cancer treatment, which may cause early menopause”.
Developed in collaboration with the technology platform, Clinibee, the overall aim of the app is to “streamline clinical pathways, referrals, and decision-making in healthcare”.
Speaking on the impact of the app, founder and project lead for MENO.pause, Dr Shibani Nicum, said: “With up to 13 million women currently going through menopause in the UK and too few trained specialists, the MENO.pause app helps to meet the need for improved access to high quality advice by providing information on a wide range of treatments in one place. We hope that women can really understand and share in decision making around their menopause care.”
App development in health and care: the wider trend
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS FT shared details of a new web-based app aimed at improving the ordering process for patient equipment across the region. The Equipment Locality App was reportedly “built from scratch” by Luke Holland, a therapy clinical site coordinator at Good Hope Hospital, allowing staff to find out which GP practice and council area are linked with a patient to make it clearer which supplier to use when ordering equipment.
Last month, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust launched the HealthZone UK app to support cancer patients and their families, providing access to relevant information, guidance and advice. Co-designed by patients, the app covers physical and mental health, signposts to local and national charities and groups, while offering advice on the trust’s prehabilitation provision, the cost of cancer and more.
A trial version of the GOV.UK App was recently made available for download through the App Store and Google marketplace, allowing people to interact with government services through their smartphones. The app is said to provide access to a range of services, such as travel, business, money, tax and parenting right away, ensuring people can get information they need, request support or change their details with ease.
As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the government has outlined the role of the NHS App in its health system of the future, focusing on AI-enabled features, links with wearable tech and access to the Single Patient Record. Plans are in place to turn the NHS App into a tool for access, empowerment and care planning, creating a “full front door to the entire NHS”.
