Mobile and app news in brief

This month’s round-up of mobile and app news includes an award win for SiteKit, the company behind the eRedbook. It also lists some interesting apps from NHS trusts looking to support adults with learning disabilities, to reduce the stigma around electro-convulsive therapy, and to support those worried about hereditary cancer.

SiteKit wins smart cities award

SiteKit has won the ‘connected society’ prize in the BT smart city contest, which is a partnership between BT, the Cabinet Office, Milton Keyne’s smart city programme, and its local tech hub. SiteKit is a healthcare tech start-up based on the Isle of Skye that has developed a digital version of the NHS’ paper-based ‘red book’ child healthcare record. This is now being used in Liverpool, London and other cities.

Yorkshire app helps adults with learning disabilities

A new app to help adults with learning disabilities manage their care was launched in Hull on 31 May. The My Health Guide app, intended to be used on a tablet, allows clients to organise and share receive information with carers and family.

It covers everything from appointments, to care preferences to medical information.  It is now being piloted with 200 clients at the Humber NHS Foundation Trust, which covers Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Electroconvulsive therapy app aims to inform and reduce stigma

Leicestershire Health Informatics Service, part of the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, has developed an app to provide both patients and clinicians with clearer information about electroconvulsive therapy.

It hopes this will improve awareness of the treatment, and reduce the stigma that can be associated with the therapy. The app provides a database of information – in text, video and audio – that can be used to train doctors and nurses as well as inform patients.

Hereditary cancer targeted by app

An app has been developed that will help clinicians to screen people at high risk of inherited cancers, and fast-track them for specialist care. South London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust developed the app after a doubling in referrals for inherited cancers following publicity around actress Angela Jolie’s preventative double mastectomy in 2013.

The app, developed by the trust clinical genetics teams with tech firm UBQO, uses personal, family and medical history to assess the risk of inherited cancer. People that are flagged by the app will then be referred for specialist care.

 LabStyle launches diabetes monitor for smartphones

LabStyle has launched a product called Dario that it claims “turns your smartphone into a diabetes monitor.” Its monitor connects to a smartphone via the headphone socket, enabling diabetics to test their blood sugar and see the results on their phone. An app can also chart sugar levels over time, count carbs, keep a food diary, and issue alerts to carers and family.