North East and North Cumbria ICB has opened a market engagement exercise to support the development of an innovative obesity pathway across the region.
The engagement intends to inform a future specification and procurement strategy, aiming to understand the capabilities, innovations and constraints within the market, as well to test its emerging requirements and delivery approach, the ICB noted.
NENC ICB shared that they are developing a new, community-first obesity pathway as part of the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme, to support adults with obesity who are on waiting lists or at risk of a loss of economic activity due to obesity and related long-term conditions.
An integrated platform to “act as the digital spine for the pathway” is being explored, with requirements to include: identification and invitation of eligible patients; digital referral, consent and triage; patient-facing tools for self-assessment, remote monitoring and behavioural support (including AI meal planning); and role based portals for community pharmacies, specialist teams and programme staff.
The ICB states the platform needs to integrate with existing NHS systems, including the NHS App, GP clinical systems and provider electronic patient records, and support high standards of clinical safety, information governance and cybersecurity.
A market engagement event is planned for Thursday 8th January at 10:45 via Teams, learn more here.
Wider trend: Digital patient
For a panel discussion webinar on advancing patient engagement with communication tech and patient portals, we were joined by experts including Jothi Vasan-O’Leary, medical information officer and outpatient clinical lead (GIRFT) at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton; Daniel Parkinson, digital IT project manager at Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Sally Mole, senior digital programme manager – digital portfolio delivery team at The Dudley Group; and Emma Stratful, chief operating officer at OX.DH. Our panellists, discussed adoption, engagement, the use of AI and automation technologies, functionality and the future role of patient portals and communication tech in tackling NHS challenges.
Sussex ICB’s Digital Inclusion Strategic Approach for 2025 – 2027 shared the system’s commitments to promoting digital inclusion, along with measures indicative of success. Shaped by residents, NHS teams, councils and community organisations, the approach reflects on designing inclusive services and addressing challenges people may face in accessing them. The ICB highlighted digital exclusion risks in the region, including more than 200,000 people identified as lacking basic digital skills, 102,000 people with English as a second language and 22.4 percent of the population aged 65 and over.
We were recently joined by a panel of experts to discuss digital apps and wearables in health and care, exploring how these technologies can be integrated into the health system now and in the future. Our panellists included Gail Lowe, high intensity users lead & county integrated discharge hub lead across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent and Soo Hun, innovation & digital eco-system lead at Digital Health & Care NI.
