Call for best health apps

26 August 2011

HEALTHCARE professionals are being asked to name their favourite health apps that will help patients make informed decisions about their care.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley is calling for ideas relating to one of five themes: personalisation and choice of care and support; better health and care outcomes; autonomy and accountability; improving public health; and improving long term care and support. The ideas can also extend to online maps.

One example cited by Mr Lansley is the Choosing Well app developed by NHS Yorkshire and Humber which enables people to search for their nearest NHS services.

The Department of Health say they want to hear about new and existing applications although no extra funding is being made available to develop new programmes. The DoH hope that the best new ideas that are submitted will be picked up by private developers.

Ideas can be submitted over a six-week period at www.mapsandapps.dh.gov.uk

At the end of the six weeks, a panel of judges will choose their favourite apps and ideas that will then be showcased at an event in the autumn.