Doctors told to prescribe smartphone apps to patients
Health reforms and political wrangling aside, following a public appeal from the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, more than 500 apps have now been identified to help people stay healthy. – according to this article. Under the proposals, GPs will be asked to recommend some of these apps which are free or cheap for their patients to use, as part of an attempt to both give patients more power and reduce visits to doctors. Among the apps available is a tool for food allergy suffers that scans bar codes on shop products to warn them if they contain dangerous ingredients. And a new diabetes app from Diabetes UK gives people reminders on checking blood sugar levels and taking medication. Information can then be sent electronically to the patient’s surgery or clinic. As apps are software made for mobile devices their applicability and usage across rural England could be patchy. On Tuesday 6 March the RSN is holding an event on broadband (at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Beverley). The programme includes a presentation from Daniel Heery of Cybermoor (a community owned co-operative based in Alston, Cumbria, which provides Wi-Fi broadband, a local directory and news to residents: http://www.cybermoor.org/). Cybermoor is inspirational initiative, more recently providing e-health services to the community. For more information about the broadband event and/or to book a place please contact Wendy Cooper at the RSN by email wendy.cooper@sparse.gov.uk or telephone 01822 813693.