Digital platform launched for chronic kidney disease

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has rolled out the Healthinote digital health platform to provide information and education for patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The platform, developed by the Cognitant Group, is initially being trialled for one year to support the early detection and prevention of CKD, which is often symptomless in its early stages but can lead to life-threatening complications if left undiagnosed.

North East and North Cumbria, which has higher rates of kidney disease than the national average, has launched the Screening, Prevention, Outreach and Treatment for Health Equity (SPOT-CKD) programme to identify patients early and equip them with the tools to manage their health.

A key part of the initiative is the Kidney Essentials programme, which is delivered through the Healthinote platform, a multilingual digital resource co-created with patients and clinicians at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Sarah McCloskey, consultant nephrologist and CKD lead for the North East and North Cumbria Renal Network, said: “The rollout of the Kidney Essentials programme on the Healthinote platform marks a major step forward in addressing health inequalities across the North East of England and North Cumbria.

“This innovative resource provides clear, accessible information supported by easy-to-understand visuals, all tailored to real-world patient needs and available in multiple languages.

“With chronic kidney disease on the rise, Cognitant’s resources offer patients the tools to better understand and manage their condition. It’s set to transform consultations, reduce unnecessary appointments, and free up valuable time for clinicians to focus on what matters most.

“By improving health literacy and enabling remote care, it will help to ease pressure on NHS services while delivering better outcomes for the communities who need it most.”

With NHS-approved integration, Healthinote is used to support people with a range of long-term conditions to improve patient self-management, health literacy and promote shared decision making.

Dr Tim Ringrose, chief executive of Cognitant Group, said: “This is a perfect example of how digital health services can be successfully integrated into the NHS to improve patient care whilst also reducing the load on clinical GP practices and hospitals.

“It’s a clear demonstration of how the NHS can make the three shifts that form the backbone of the 10 year NHS plan, with a focus on prevention, moving care into the community and using digital services.”

SPOT-CKD is delivered in collaboration between North East and North Cumbria ICB, Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, and Boehringer Ingelheim.