A digital health app used by adults with learning disabilities has delivered a dramatic 30% reduction on the burden placed on health services. The My Health Guide app, developed by London-based health focused tech firm Maldaba Ltd, is currently being trialled by Humber NHS Foundation Trust with 200 users taking part in a year-long pilot scheme. Initial data analysis of 60 trial app users has shown that like for like contacts with healthcare professionals reduced from 12,469 to 8,636 (a 30% drop).
Carl Barron and Martin Robson are currently trialling My Health Guide (MHG), as part of a pilot project with Humber NHS Foundation Trust with 200 users testing out the app’s functionality.
“My Health Guide helps me to communicate with the world and lets me keep a record of everything that happens in my life!” says Barron who, like Martin, attends Millers Day Centre in Beverley on a daily basis. It lets people know how I feel and it also helps a lot with my healthcare as all of the information needed for my care can be found in one place.” A speech recording function is one of the features that Barron uses regularly: “I really love speaking into it and recording my thoughts so I don’t have to write them down. I also like photography and have taken many photos.”
Robson, who has Down Syndrome and diabetes, echoed Barron’s sentiments saying, “It is very easy to use.” His keyworker at Millers, Mandy Taylor, is similarly enthused: “It’s just a super gadget to work. This technology adds a lot of independence to Martin’s day-to-day life and helps to build up Martin’s confidence and self esteem and helping him to manage his health more effectively.”
Trish Bailey, a senior nurse with Humber NHS Foundation Trust, has been closely involved with the trial. She commented: “This proves how empowering and effective smart technology can be in enabling adults with learning disabilities to increase their independence and put them in control as well as lowering the number of times they have to visit a healthcare professional. These statistics are very encouraging and only serve to justify our growing interest in smart technological approaches.”
This news item first appeared in Desang Diabetes Magazine, our free-to-receive digital journal. We cover diabetes news, diabetes management equipment (diabetes kit) and news about food suitable for a diabetic diet. Go to the top of this page to sign up – we just need your email address.
