Rowcroft Hospice has been collaborating with patients, carers and staff as well as students from Torquay Boys’ Grammar School to create a cutting-edge app aimed at enhancing patient care. Developed with funding from The Health Foundation through its ‘Tech for Better Care’ programme, Rowcroft’s new web app will cater specifically to patients living at home in the last years of life, people with dementia, and those in rural or coastal areas who face challenges accessing community palliative care.
“We’re so grateful to The Health Foundation for funding this innovative project,” said Dr Gill Horne, Programme Director – Care Services, at Rowcroft Hospice. “The web app will play a crucial role in ensuring that patients and their caregivers receive the highest level of specialised care and support. It aims to improve end-of-life care by directing patients and their caregivers to the information they need at the right time. It provides a self assessment tool, as well as information, guidance and advice on a number of topics including services and thinking ahead. The web app aims to empower users with the information and support they need and help hospice staff provide proactive care to those in greatest need.”
The technology will help monitor pain and other symptoms, mobility, and levels of emotional distress for patients and their carers. This information will empower patients or their carers to reach out for support. The aim is to have the information assessed by Rowcroft’s Community Team who, on identifying any changes in measures will make contact via a text message, phone call, or face-to-face visit to help manage symptoms, as well as providing support for loved ones.
Charlie Snell and Oliver Roach, Year Nine students from Torquay Boys’ Grammar School who participated in the web app prototyping workshops, shared their excitement about the project: “It’s been great to be helping to develop the web app,” they said. “We’ve been helping to create the structure and design by giving ideas and suggestions to make sure that it is as good as possible so that people can understand it. The app will provide support to patients, and we’re hoping that it will save the nurses time as well.”
“Most people at the end of their lives express a preference for receiving care in their own homes but they can find it difficult to cope,” said Rowcroft’s Karenne Weaver, Head of Community and Hospice at Home. “This is often due to insufficient knowledge and not knowing when to access help. The app will support patients and carers at home by providing this information and support. The platform will also be a useful resource for health and social care professionals and volunteers, aiding their support for those nearing the end of life.”
The first phase of the project – the research phase – found that those caring for people living with life-limiting conditions want information in an easily accessible format; they need to know about what to expect in the future, who to contact and when. The project’s second phase is now focusing on developing prototypes, testing functionalities and refiningthese based on user feedback to ensure seamless integration into daily care practices.
The web app will include some interactive components, giving patients and their carers more opportunities to connect with the hospice teams, gaining the information they need when they are worried and enabling staff to be more proactive in meeting their needs.
“In our aging society, the demand for palliative care is rising, necessitating innovative solutions like the web app to meet evolving needs,” added Verity Mann, Rowcroft’s Referral Co-ordinator (Community Services and Hospice at Home). “This project exemplifies our commitment to harnessing technology for compassionate, empathetic care tailored to individual circumstances.”
For more information on Rowcroft Hospice and its pioneering initiatives, visit www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk.
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