The AHSN Network has supported many innovators to help advance our health and care system. Find out more about successful innovations supported by the NHS.
FibriCheck provides timely detection of heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients can self-monitor heart rate and rhythm at home by placing a finger on the camera of their smartphone. The software can be used in prevention, early detection and follow-up.
The NHS Long Term Plan states that the biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years is in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD causes one death every three minutes in the UK, with those in the most deprived areas four times more likely to die. For the first time in 50 years, deaths from premature cardiovascular disease are on the rise. CVD is the single biggest area where the health service can save lives over the next 10 years through targeted approaches to reduce the widening of health inequalities. To address this the AHSN Network is delivering a national lipids optimisation programme, which commenced in 2020/21, that will run for three years. This programme aims to improve the management of cholesterol, increase the detection of those with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia and optimise the use of all medicines for patients on the cholesterol management pathway.
Selfit is a digital robotic care startup based in Israel, with early operations in the UK. The company has developed a unique human-machine interaction for the ageing population focused on physical and congnitive health. Some of the applications are rehabilitation related (Neuro, Cardiac, Geriatrics) others are designed for prevention and wellness phases (elderly falls, cognitive impairments). The robot is currently installed in several facilities in Israel and UK.
Oxford Heartbeat’s medical device software PreSize® Neurovascular helps clinicians make surgical decisions with greater accuracy and confidence. Use of PreSize® is aimed at significantly reducing risks associated with stenting procedures, as clinicians are able to virtually test and compare the behaviour of stents in a patient’s cerebral blood vessels before surgery, selecting the best one for each patient.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the world’s number one killer, accounting for 15% of UK deaths in 2019¹. HeartFlow FFRCT analysis provides clinicians with a more efficient pathway for diagnosing CHD that combines simulation models and medical imaging data.
REACH-HF (Rehabilitation EnAblement in CHronic Heart Failure) is a facilitated evidence based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) and self-management programme for use at home. It comprises the ‘heart failure manual’, a relaxation CD, a choice of exercise (walking programme or a chair-based DVD) a 'progress tracker' for patients, and a ‘family and friends resource’ for caregivers.
The improved accuracy of the high sensitivity test compared to the standard troponin test allows testing of troponin concentration and type (T or I) at 1-hour and/or 3-hours post Emergency Department (ED) presentation. This innovation adoption in both technology and pathway will greatly improve patient care and efficiency at ED, enabling patients to be sent home secure in the knowledge that a heart attack has not occurred while keeping beds free in ED.
Smart with your Heart aims to reduce readmissions in heart failure pathways by using digital technology. The aim was to reduce the 'revolving readmission door' for heart failure patients, by working in partnership with secondary and primary care settings and three digital providers.
New artificial intelligence (AI)-driven imaging support software which has the potential to deliver huge benefits to hundreds of stroke patients each year and significant cost savings to the NHS has been implemented at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBH). The Oxford AHSN is supporting wider regional roll-out backed by NHS England. The CE-marked e-Stroke Suite developed by Brainomix Ltd includes tools for non-contrast CT and CT angiography brain scans, connecting physicians and facilitating information transfer. The software supports physicians in identifying patients who would benefit from acute stroke treatments, selecting patients most likely to benefit from specific interventions, such as mechanical thrombectomy.
Stroke affects 100,000 people in the UK each year. 33% of patients will die and 90% of survivors will have a disability for the rest of their lives. In 2018, POCKiT Diagnostics performed a double-blind retrospective clinical study where they discovered a novel biomarker panel with high accuracy for stroke sub type differentiation.
This service improvement programme aims to enable primary care staff to improve lower limb vascular assessments in patients with leg ulcers to allow appropriate treatment to start earlier.
Pando is a communications platform for healthcare professionals, created by NHS doctors which helps NHS workers exchange patient information, make clinical decisions, manage their workload, and making collaboration easy, fast and secure. Pando saves healthcare professionals more than 40 minutes per shift and improves satisfaction at work, while saving NHS Trusts £6.9m over a 5-year term.
