A number of digital initiatives are among those to receive shares of £6.5 million allocated by NHSX through its Adoption Fund.
They include projects to use digital technology in preparations for colonoscopies, maternity services, mental healthcare and managing lower back pain.
The awards have been made as part of the wider fund, which was set up to support innovation patient pathways for gastroenterology, musculoskeletal and perioperative treatment, cardiology and cardiac surgery, and to support digital inclusion.
Overall 35 projects have been chosen for support from 138 applications.
Matthew Gould, chief executive of NHSX, said: "Today we are backing 35 local projects to transform care for patients using digital technology.
"These initiatives show how digital can help the NHS ease the pressure on services, from digitising standard pre-treatment assessment processes to freeing up clinical time by supporting patients to manage their conditions at home."
Among the organisations to receive support are:
- North East London Health and Care Partnership, which is leading the development of an automated text messaging system to provide reminders for patients of steps to be taken before a colonoscopy;
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System (ICS), to identify the main barriers and blockers to accessing digital services in the maternity pathway;
- Surrey Heartlands ICS, to develop and implement a digital inclusion plan for patients access its Early Intervention in Psychoses service;
- and Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group to research, review and address digital inclusion across cancer and musculoskeletal pathways.
Lisa Hollins, director of innovation delivery of NHSX, said it expects that over the next three years all high volume specialities in healthcare will have agreed an established digital pathway, there will be support for patients to monitor long term conditions at home, and the most complex conditions will be monitored using digital platforms.
She added that NHSX plans to convene a community of practice among the successful bidders to provide solutions to problems and share learning.
Image from iStock, ipopba
