Smartphones, with support from DigitalHealth.London Accelerator, are transforming London’s NHS

For the first time, NHS providers in London have revealed the extent to which smartphones, the Internet and Bluetooth are improving patient care and look set to save the capital’s NHS millions each year.Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust expects to save £2.5 million each year by reducing missed appointments through an app called DrDoctor which gives patients much more say in selecting a date and time of their choice, resulting in “no show” rates falling by 40%.

Health chiefs are also using smartphones to tackle a looming health crisis with London boroughs tackling type-2 diabetes.

Programmes run by the North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, covering eight boroughs, are successfully tackling diabetes through digital technology. OurPath links an app to a fitness wristband and 3G connected weighing scales to provide clients with realtime updates that help tackle type-2 diabetes, and in studies has achieved an average 5.3kg weight loss, while Oviva has seen more than 200 people complete the online programme with an impressive 90 per cent completion rate.

The London Ambulance Service is a key adopter of these technologies, having helped adapt the Perfect Ward audit tool specifically for its ambulance stations. The city-wide service has also developed Perfect Kit Prep and cuts out medicines paperwork for faster ambulance care, these are being implemented across over 70 ambulance stations in the capital.In Chelsea and Westminster another tool links a stoma bag, used to collect faeces and urine for more than 13,000 people who undergo surgery each year nationally, through Bluetooth to users’ smartphones. A discrete device called ostom-i Alert Sensor, developed by a patient innovator, provides alerts when the bag is full so users have more control over their daily life and, importantly, greater dignity.

The report, ‘Digital Leadership in London’s NHS’, reveals that within eight months the 31 start-ups and digital companies DigitalHealth.London, have achieved strong uptake within the capital.

Other NHS organisations involved include Great Ormond Street, King’s College Hospital, Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals and the six South West London CCGs.Juliet Bauer, Director of Digital Experience, NHS England, said: “I’m a passionate supporter of DigitalHealth.London. At a time when the NHS is under real pressure, the programme has fostered the collaboration and innovation needed in information and technology to help the system work more efficiently and provide patients with the intelligent, personalised, high quality care they deserve.”

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme is receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects, which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. 

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.