NHS: Homerton University Hospital app

Homerton Hospital used plastic ‘Action cards’ to guide nursing teams on recognition and treatment. However, there were issues around contamination as well as not being able to easily update and amend the valuable content which the teams relied on.

The HUH App was designed by us, in collaboration with Becton Dickinson, who led on content. This App would be user friendly, dynamic and have increased functionality. Challenges included getting stakeholders on board with this, considering that this concept started at 'grass-roots' level nursing and also whether this would be suitable with our IT systems and firewalls. Further ideas were put together about making this not just nursing orientated, but for medical staff and allied professionals. This would be a 'one stop shop' for all things and would save valuable time to spend with patients as opposed to dealing with slow departmental systems.

Available across all platforms the app has become a core communications tool for the hospital, supporting staff in a myriad of ways. Digital solutions are gradually gaining traction across the NHS, but there has long been a question of whether the ability to implement solutions was matched by the obvious will for change on the ground. This app is a clear demonstration of this will being translated into action.