Reimagining Neurology Care with Data and Digital Technologies
We were delighted to join the Movers & Shakers podcast to discuss the use of data and digital technology to support neurological conditions [Link to podcast here]. Rory Cellan-Jones’s accompanying blog [here] and the following article which is also published on the Movers and Shakers website [here] highlight the extraordinary potential for use of data and digital technologies, and in particular Neu Health’s platform. Mark Mardell emphasises the importance of this in the podcast “I find this incredibly exciting…and maybe I am a bit starry eyed, but I see this as the only sort of thing that’s going to save the NHS” – and we are thrilled to be working with the NHS to bring the Neu Health technology to support people living with conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.
Reimagining Neurology Care with Data and Digital Technologies
Living with chronic conditions like Parkinson’s disease or Dementia can be incredibly challenging. Whilst the NHS is blessed with talented clinicians and therapists, care is often hampered by shortages in staff, resources and treatments. Consider this: a person diagnosed with Parkinson’s left in the dark without any guidance on the actions she should take, another spending over a year getting to the right medication, and a third consumed by constant worry over whether they're managing their condition correctly.
These stories aren’t isolated incidents. In fact, nearly a million people in the UK grapple with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and Dementia. Sadly, managing these conditions is far from straightforward due to their complexity, a shortage of specialists, and the inherent difficulty in accurately measuring their progression.
But what if there was a solution? What if we could revolutionise the management of these conditions using digital technologies and data, just as we've successfully done with diseases like diabetes?
At Neu Health, we're doing exactly this. Drawing on a decade of research from the University of Oxford, we've developed user-friendly digital tools aimed at empowering both patients and clinicians to better manage neurological conditions. These tools allow patients to monitor symptoms, adhere to medication schedules, access personalised best practices, and seamlessly share data with their clinical team.
Through sophisticated data analysis and artificial intelligence, clinicians gain invaluable insights into each patient's condition and preferences, enabling tailored treatments and recommendations. This personalised approach doesn’t just improve clinical outcomes; it enhances the quality of life for individuals battling these conditions on a daily basis.
We are already using these digital approaches in NHS Trusts in Suffolk and Yorkshire, and we can see improvements in clinic efficiency, clinical care. Early reports indicate a 10% boost in quality of life for patients who have gained more control over their care. Evidence from other conditions shows that proactive management leads to reduced emergency hospital admissions and significant benefits for the NHS as a whole.
However, despite these clear advantages, widespread adoption of digital condition management within the NHS faces hurdles. Patients must trust these technologies and find them easy to use, while clinicians need assurance that they're effective. Moreover, these technologies must be cost-effective for the NHS, requiring robust business cases to justify investments.
Yet, the potential is immense. With the UK's unparalleled resources—ranging from the scale of the NHS, the excellence of UK research, to the entrepreneurial spirit of British startups—we are uniquely positioned to lead the global charge in data and digital health. Imagine a future where cutting-edge innovations are accessible to every patient, transforming lives and establishing the UK as a leader in healthcare innovation. It's an ambitious vision, but one that's entirely within our reach.