The interactive platform, Go Well Health (GWH), has been used by the trust’s orthopaedics team since 2018, but as a result of COVID-19 it will soon also be available to heart and lung patients.
During the pandemic, all non-urgent face to face clinic appointments were postponed to allow NHS resources to be focused and prioritised to the areas and patients who needed them most and to reduce the risk of infection
This saw medical teams look at different ways that they could remotely assist patients who were waiting for surgery.
The free programme allows patients to access services they would normally expect in person. This includes educational information, maps, surgical videos, narrated presentations and therapy videos.
Surgeons are also able to monitor the patient while they are at home through interactive forms and detailed reports.
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Paul Baker, who was involved in the initial launch of the programme, said: “GWH is an excellent way of making sure that patients have direct, effective and quick communication with their consultants.
“Since we introduced the app to orthopaedic patients in November 2018 and we have had more than 1,100 patients register.
“The programme has really come into its own during the coronavirus pandemic and I am happy to see that it is going to be taken on by another department within the trust.”
Marion Archer, 75 from near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, used the digital platform when she underwent a hip replacement at the Friarage Hospital in 2018.
“I would recommend the programme to anyone as it’s a really good way of keeping in touch with your consultant and finding out what will happen before and during the procedure,” she said.
“It included a lot of one page information sheets which were helpful.
“I found the information about the hospital, what happens at your first appointment and what to take with you when going into hospital very useful though I would have liked more exercise advice.
“If it wasn’t for the programme I probably would have had a number of questions and would have needed to phone up to get answers to my questions.
“I used the diary section of the programme to keep my own record of progress and still note any changes today.”
Consultant orthopaedic surgeon, Paul Baker and Natalie Clark, clinical trials assistant
