Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) has been successful in winning funding to launch a digital wound care management solution to help people with lower limb wounds.
Working with innovation, health and social care partners, CPFT is leading one of 27 projects around the country awarded £5,518, 492 in total to support people with digital health technology at home.
CPFT has partnered with North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Healthy.io, Channel 3 Consulting, Eastern AHSN and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Adopting Innovation Hub to implement software that provides more consistent wound assessments, more accurate capture of essential wound characteristics and improved visual tracking of wounds through enhanced wound imaging.
Business Engagement and Clinical Innovation Manager Dr Patrick Williamson coordinated the winning bid for the Digital Health Partnership Award created by NHS England, and now leads the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Adopting Innovation Hub hosted by CPFT.
Patrick said: “Thank you to everyone who supported the application to deliver this project for our health and care system. We listened to our clinical staff who recognise the burden of managing wounds and the need to reduce unnecessary suffering. We supported their vision to adopt this innovative solution. The technology will improve wound care record keeping and embed wound care pathways for people in the community. This software will also help us address any variations in care with more consistent wound management across the region. We are excited to support this initiative as the first implementation project of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Adopting Innovation Hub.”
CPFT’s operational and clinical manager for the Tissue Viability, Bladder and Bowel Service Sally-Anne Bradford is the project’s clinical expert lead.
Sally-Anne said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to introduce a digital solution to streamline wound care. This technology will help us to detect static wounds, allowing for earlier intervention and better patient outcomes. Our nurses will capture and assess wounds quickly and accurately, reduce the administrative burden. The secure digital portal can provide an opportunity for remote monitoring and support with rapid access to specialist advice, cutting down unnecessary follow up visits and outpatient appointments. We will use the photographs and wound measurement data to help us engage with our patient, leading to a positive effect on both clinician and patient wellbeing.”
The Digital Health Partnership Award is run by the NHS Transformation Directorate (part of NHS England and NHS Improvement) to help NHS organisations in England to bid for funding to speed up the adoption of digital health technologies that support patients at home. The programme is now in its third phase, with a total of 41 projects supported by phases 1 and 2 last year. For more information visit: https://www.nhsx.nhs.uk/key-tools-and-info/digital-health-partnership-award/
