In the final edition of our Health Tech Heroes series we recognise and say thank you to those in health tech making a real difference.
Here we highlight the work of teams from across the country who have been working around the clock to deliver technology at pace to support health and care.
You can view previous editions in the series here. The nominations for this series include:
AccuRx
Roy Williams, Clinical Director, Wyre Forest Health Partnership said “They have quite simply saved the NHS with the introduction of video consultation in general practice. The SMS system is fantastic, easy to use, intuitive and they are extremely responsive to feedback, but the addition of the video system has been truly amazing and came at just the right time to support through Covid. They respond to feedback well and have a really useful approach for practices – examples are the DPIA and practice policies on their website.”
Tom Groves, GP, New Road Surgey “They have enabled primary care to provide a remote, effective and functional service from day 1 of this crisis. They have responded rapidly to every request for new functionality and continue to evolve and develop. The service has also been free to the GP user…. phenomenal.”
Primary Care Pathways
Madhvi Joshi, GP partner “I nominate primary care pathways for their brilliant COVID 19 screening and OneRemote templates for COVID 19. It helped our staff capture the key questions for screening, assessments via telephone and also documenting necessary details after death to simplify admin. Good work PCP!”
Simon Hodes, General Practitioner “They have collaborated to produce and make FREELY available a range of IT solutions for General Practice. This is updated in real time, and made freely available via social media. They have a clear understanding of the practical needs of their target audience.Their support and material throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic has been lightning fast and invaluable.”
Dustyn Saint and Primary Care IT
Martin Bell, The Martin Bell Partnership “Not only do they provide excellent tools to intelligently support GPs and other primary care clinicians and staff, to get the most from their EMIS and TPP systems, but he and the team have done sterling work during the Covid19 pandemic to get information and tools out to support primary care across the country – and all whilst Dustyn continues to run a live, actual GP surgery, at one point during the pandemic, virtually as the only GP in his practice who was still able to help patients. The very real front line, supporting the front line – a great example of clinical leadership.”
Jo Watts, Head of Digital Programmes, University Hospital Southampton NHS FT
Jo oversees more than 100 digital projects at UHS, including My Medical Record, video clinics using Attend Anywhere, and manages the digital team at the Trust who each in turn successfully manage projects with her unwavering support.
The nomination said “Jo brings emotional intelligence to the role. In the month prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic Jo was preparing her team and was keen to hear all ideas about how the team could support nursing homes in the community with telemedicine, digital technology, how to safely support all staff – those who needed to remain at on site, and at the same time managing literally hundreds of requests to enable staff to work remotely.”
“During Covid-19 the digital team have given Microsoft Teams licences to over 4,500 new users, alongside flexing the team to support staff with new ways of working. Under the pressure of Covid 19 Jo remains focused on the digital needs by focusing on giving people access to reliable digital tech, to improve their time as a patient at the Trust, alongside supporting all members of staff where she can.”
“One such project she has pushed during Covid 19 is for inpatients to have virtual visits with their loved ones and chaplaincy via iPads during visiting hours. She supported the team to find the solution using the Attend Anywhere software, with help from nursing staff, switchboard and many digital team members coming together. As a communicator she has connected individuals and departments throughout the Trust and is genuinely passionate about helping people, with no problem is too small.”
Ade Byrne, CIO said “Jo is a real powerhouse of a programme manager, totally committed to any task she takes on. This is backed up by a deep understanding of the subject matter including technical aspects, a great organiser, I could go on, but it would be futile to cover enough in a small piece. All I can say is her work rate sometimes tires me out.”
Mike Celinski, Consultant Intensivist at UHS said “Jo is hard working, enthusiastic and wise when it comes to bringing technology to the workplace. She is passionate about making technology work for the users by focusing on their needs, and breaking down the barriers between IT, and patients and staff.”
Helen Harrison Project Manager, MS Teams, Medxnote and Attend Anywhere Video Clinics “It’s a pleasure working for Jo, I know no matter what comes our way she will support us and help us through it. She’s built up a team which I am so proud to work in. We wouldn’t be half as successful if it wasn’t for Jo’s brilliant leadership.”
Digital Team – North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS FT
Paul Fieldhouse, Clinical Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation “The IT team at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS FT have not just maintained a high level of service throughout the pandemic so far, (facilitated and sustaining access to clinical records via existing clinical systems etc) they have gone above and beyond to help out colleagues across the healthcare system.
“The team have also been working collaboratively with other organisations, and advising NHSE, on the process and testing to set up of every local GP practice with access for sharing their schedule with NHS111 and CCAS services to enable booking. For Communications they have managed and delivered against a high demand and supported new initiatives for the recording of clinical conversations for triage etc.
“Virtual Visits (Patients to Relatives and Families) have been supported with new kit and supportive training and a catalogue of new Communications Platforms have been launched and supported to help with internal communications.
“Patient Consultations (Clinician to Patient) have also been supported with additional training capacity, training materials in development. The Attend Anywhere platform has been rolled out and a process put in place for prioritisation and scheduling 15/28 acute services, 9/12 community services, 15/18 services in primary care/ICCs, 1/2 ‘other’ services.
“A true team effort. Thank you.”
The Digital Health Team – Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust
Jo Cameron, Digital Health Team Lead “We are a community based trust and have quickly had to implement Microsoft Teams, e-consultations and formulate eLearning packages as well as provide multiple function training sessions across teams. The whole team has had to work from home which has brought a host of challenges which the team have risen to in style. I feel very proud.”
The Pharmacy Digital Innovation and Technology Team – Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Carly Aarons, Lead Pharmacist Digital Innovation and Technology highlighted the work of the team:
- Re-configured the existing inpatient electronic prescribing solution to allow functionality for outpatient prescribing, and set up 100+ users to allow remote electronic prescribing of medications. This allowed clinical staff to work from home and patients to receive medications from a virtual clinic appointment. This was done within a week.
- Reconfigured the ward automated drug cabinets to allow critically ill COVID patients to be treated with appropriate critical care medication at short notice.
- Set up cost centres and stock lists for the newly formed ‘red’ COVID areas to allow medications to be prioritised for these areas and ensure appropriate costing.
- Modified working policies to make prescription and administration of controlled drugs easier for clinical staff who are working under social distancing and wearing PPE, including making access to these medications easier and reducing the paper administrative burden.
- Set up complex COVID clinical trial medication protocols to enable the easy prescribing and adminstration of these medications on the electronic prescribing systems.
- Used the electronic prescribing systems to report data at short notice required for COVID planning, including use of Oxygen in the Trust to allow levels to be anticipated.
