Plans for NHS "Virtual Clinic"

Leeds digital specialists speed up plans to develop 'virtual clinic' app for NHS amid the coronavirus crisis.

07:24 15 May 2020

Itecho Health, the creator of Ascelus medical app, is fast-tracking its plans to creating a virtual NHS clinic amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Created by former NHS doctor Adrian Brown and digital tech expert Lalit Suryawanshi, the firm has doubled its output and recruited eight medical students from the University of Leeds' School of Medicine as it races to provide alternative solutions to face to face appointments. 

 

Dr. Adrian Brown said: "Out objective with Ascelus has always been to relieve some of the burdens on our health service, by creating a virtual clinic, where chronic conditions can be managed through online communications with clinicians. 

 

"The COVID-19 public health crisis has given that objective an even greater focus. Our outpatient visits have stopped. Doctors are increasingly having telephone consultations with their patients and vulnerable patients are avoiding going to the hospital for vital check-ups and treatment." 

 

The Ascelus platform allows doctors to remotely monitor their patients with long term conditions. The app offers access to the patient's blood and pathology results and provides an easy way for doctors to reach out to patients with any message and advice. 

 

Dr Brown added: "We're also developing the app's capacity to monitor patients' treatment and outcomes when they are taken into intensive care for treatment of COVID-19, working with the NHS and health providers in other countries to capture vital data. 

 

"Whatever we can do to help our health service during these challenging times is obviously important and as we emerge from the crisis, managing and improving care pathways for those living with long-term conditions will continue to be a key objective for patients, clinicians and commissioners. Digital innovation will play a vital part in the process."