NHSX Adoption Fund awarded projects to improve digital pathways in England

In November 2021, NHSX announced projects to improve digital pathways awarded for funding from the newly created Adoption Fund. The Adoption Fund will support innovations that have some evidence base in the NHS and can address elective recovery, are compliant with DTAC (Digital Technology Assessment Criteria), are not being funded elsewhere by the NHS, and have the potential for rapid, wide rollout across the NHS. Funding opportunities will support Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) with initiatives to test out digital pathways across various specialty areas:

• Gastroenterology pathways with up to £200,000 funding available per ICS;
• Musculoskeletal pathways with up to £200,000 funding available per ICS;
• Cardiology and cardiac surgery networks with up to £750,000 funding available per cardiac network;
• Perioperative pathways with up to £500,000 funding available per ICS;
• Initiatives to support digital inclusion with up to £20,000 per ICS.

The applications were submitted by ICSs to NHSX in August - September 2021. A total of 35 applications were successful and will share funding of £6.5 million.

Eight applications were awarded in the gastroenterology pathway, including the following:

• IBDoc: Gastro remote care & monitoring. A pilot project for home monitoring of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients using IBDoc, a diagnostic device to determine fecal calprotectin levels in stool samples;
• Home fecal calprotectin testing pilot in an area of high social deprivation. Pilot project with the use of home fecal calprotectin, in conjunction with DrDoctor tool, within three different groups of IBD patients;
• Automated endoscopy bowel prep pre-assessment and patient education (Remcare app);
• Integrating e-Health into the IBD patient pathway using virtual monitoring and fecal calprotectin home testing; Patients will be offered a virtual review via the My IBD Care app, with three monthly calprotectin testing using the CalproSmart home test kits. A smaller group will also trial the feasibility of the Thriva at-home blood testing;
• Supported self-management and remote monitoring of IBD patients within Herefordshire and Worcestershire. A project to implement the use of the My IBD Care app alongside the CalproSmart at-home fecal calprotectin;

Nine applications were awarded in the musculoskeletal pathway, including the following:

• Empowering self-management through online education for MSK conditions (Harrogate Health Hub);
• Web-based exercise prescription to support self-management (Physitrack);
• Using decision support tools to self-manage low back pain (SelfBack and STarTBack platforms);
• Going paperless to support patients to self-manage MSK conditions (MyRecovery);
• Video-based exercise rehabilitation and physiotherapy-led group exercise classes (Rehab Me app);
• Integrating voluntary, community, and prescribing social resources into digital self-management for common musculoskeletal conditions (GetUBetter platform).

Two applications were awarded in the cardiology and cardiac surgery area:

• London Cardiac Networks seeks funding for remote monitoring technology and change management resources to implement remote monitoring pathways in elective cardiac surgery and cardiac lists (TAVI, PCI, ablation) in eight London sites. Procured digital solutions will enhance pre and postoperative pathways through digital investigation and virtual clinical tools;
• Cheshire and Merseyside Cardiac Network has a long track record in delivering enhanced clinical pathways through scaled-up adoption of telehealth. The intention is to expand the use of Docobo, a digital platform already identified by the ICS with a telehealth hub and infrastructure already in place. Docobo’s effectiveness as a telehealth solution has already been established; hence the pilot can focus on the benefits its use brings to the pathway.

Six applications were awarded in the perioperative pathway, and ten projects were awarded as Digital Health Inequality Pioneers (DiHiP).

See the full details here.

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