/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24016885/STK093_Google_04.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24808816/Starfield__The_Settled_Systems___Supra_Et_Ultra_____Starfield__The_Settled_Systems___Supra_Et_Ultra_2023_7_25_94252.263_1440p_streamshot.png)
North West London Integrated Care System (ICS) has teamed up with Inhealthcare to deliver a new technology-enabled program to tackle the inequality in physical health outcomes for patients with severe mental illness.
The program will expand annual physical health checkup routes to reach more patients with conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to help reduce health disparities.
It will also introduce remote monitoring technology to support routes, as well as improve data sharing between primary and secondary care systems.
Faith Lubimbi, Tech-Enabled Care@Home Lead at North West London ICS, said: “Our ambitious program aims to bridge the mortality gap and improve outcomes for the most vulnerable service users with severe mental illness.
“InHealthcare is helping the NHS integrate care between mental health and primary care providers to improve the patient and staff experience, increase efficiency and reduce the cost of care.”
Through the North West London ICS and InHealthcare partnership, patients will be able to access physical health checks at convenient locations such as church halls, community centers and even their own homes.
By increasing the availability of these tests, ICS may help to boost life expectancy for vulnerable patients, who die an average of 15–20 years earlier than the general population.
Healthcare professionals will use equipment such as mobile ECG machines and then record their observations directly into InHealthcare’s app, helping to improve patient record security.
The data will automatically be shared with the GP software system. Plus, authorized NHS staff will be able to view the data, allowing them to review existing conditions and initiate a treatment plan if new conditions are identified.
Brian Sage, Chief Executive of Inhealthcare, said: “We are proud to be working with the North West London Integrated Care System on this important initiative to reduce astonishing health inequalities and bring hope to people living with serious mental illness.”
Earlier this year the North West London ICS aimed to redistribute capacity across the ICS by deploying a patient portal from DrDoctor, which will also help tackle waiting list backlogs and boost patient engagement.
