Health app endorsed by NHS

A mobile phone health app created by medical experts at Imperial has been officially endorsed by the NHS.

'Wellnote by Dr Darzi' was the first smartphone health portal of its kind that allowed users to rate the health services they used, as well as maintain their own health records and set medication reminders.

Thousands of people have downloaded the app and it has been used by the Department of Health as an example of an innovative tool for helping patients take control of their health.

Originally released in 2010, Wellnote was the idea of Professor Lord Ara Darzi and was developed by his team at the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, supported by Imperial Innovations.

A new version of Wellnote has been released this month on the Apple iTunes store and the app is free to download. New services include:

• Enhanced ability to find and compare local health services in England. The ratings system introduced in the latest version of Wellnote has incorporated the views of over 400 patients and members of the public who were asked what factors were important to them in choosing a hospital.
• Opening times for local pharmacies. Users will be able to see whether pharmacies are open or closed to help them access out of hours services.
• A facility for users to record and monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels to help them manage chronic conditions. The results can be easily sent to care givers.
• Access to information videos and health news provided by NHS Choices.

The new version of Wellnote is being promoted by NHS Choices, the country's biggest health website with 20 million visitors a month.

“More than half the UK population now have smartphones,” Professor Darzi said. “The burgeoning use of such handsets is transforming how patients, the public and health professionals access information and manage their own healthcare needs. Wellnote provides reliable and trusted support to thousands of users already and the latest version of the app will make it even more useful.”