Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health delivers virtual care

Following a successful pilot with Accurx, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has implanted software to support the delivery of virtual care to patients.

The scheme was originally deployed within just 48 hours in response to the pandemic. This deployment led to improved communication between patients and their healthcare teams.

Accurx’s software is now embedded with the trust’s electronic patient records (EPR) Rio. Staff are able to launch Accurx from the main clinical record system, enabling them to start a remote consultation or send a SMS message to a patient.

This integration means that not only is it simpler for staff to use, but it also reduces the risk of potential errors.

James Reed, chief clinical information officer at Birmingham and Solihull, said: “There are a few decisive factors in why the software has been so useful to our teams. Staff could log in with their NHS email details which were already in common use.

“It was quick to roll out to staff, and also easy for patients to use. We got a substantial amount of positive feedback from the word go, patients and teams alike feeling that the software was meeting a real need head on. Staff particularly like the ability to send text messages and set up video calls quickly and seamlessly.”

As a result of deploying the Accurx software Birmingham and Solihull has become more agile in providing remote care, while ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.

Patients are able to use the software on any device, making it easy for them to incorporate remote consultations into their day. During video calls with staff, patients receive immediate notifications to help maintain a live, up-to-date channel of communication.

Dr Satya Raghuvanshi, head of clinical at Accurx, said: “It’s fantastic to see a pilot of our software have such an immediate impact on patients and trust staff alike.

“We’re thrilled that BSMHFT are now using Accurx as a key part of their digital offering for patients, and are excited to see the continued impact of better communication between healthcare teams and their patients.”

The Accurx online consultation tool, Patient Triage, is also integrated with the NHS App, allowing around 12 million patients to access GP services with the company through the NHS App.