22 August 2011
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is calling for new ideas for smartphone ‘apps and maps' that would help patients make informed decisions about their care.
The Department of Health press release says:
“Everyone, including patients, doctors, nurses and other health professionals and app developers, is invited to submit new ideas of health apps and online maps they think would be useful. One leading example of an app that benefits patients is Choosing Well, developed by NHS Yorkshire & Humber for their local community, which allows people to search for their nearest NHS health services."
Another existing app is the iBreastCheck app which helps women check for breast abnormalities.
The press release says, “For the next six weeks, people can visit www.mapsandapps.dh.gov.uk and suggest favourite apps, ideas for apps or health maps they would like to see, as well as vote for their favourite ideas submitted by others.”
Ideas and votes should fall under one of five themes:
- personalisation and choice of care and support eg. an app that allows a user to search for health information online
- better health and care outcomes eg. an app that allows a patient to manage their health condition
- autonomy and accountability eg. an app that allows patients to publicly rate and review their local health services
- improving public health eg. an app that tracks an individual’s levels of exercise
- improving long-term care and support eg. an app that helps with planning long-term care and support.
The best apps will be showcased at an event in autumn.
