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Free app helps people manage AN app has been developed to help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to take an active role in managing their health. My Arthritis is an app developed by Ampersand Health drawing on the expertise of patients and clinicians from King’s College Hospital. It helps people manage their arthritis day-to-day, bringing together a personal health record, daily tracking and easy-to-access help and support from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. Hospitals that sign up can use the app to manage their patients remotely, improving care quality and reducing unnecessary hospital visits. Inflammatory auto-immune conditions – including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – are characterised by periods of relapse and remission and impact people of any age, including the young. In addition to the physical symptoms of pain, fatigue, swollen joints, anxiety, depression and other factors impact emotional wellbeing and can severely affect quality of life. At times of relapse, when help with flare management is needed, rapid access to specialist advice can lead to better outcomes (and reduce hospital admission costs). Many people with RA experience anxiety and depression as this disease impacts on quality of life in a major way. People need access to tools and resources
There is a growing body of evidence that self-management works for patients with rheumatoid arthritis which can help them manage their disease better. People who are able to self-manage better reduce the burden and cost to the healthcare system. Nader Alaghband, founder of Ampersand Health, said: “We know that the patient’s journey is often long and lonely and a model of care based on infrequent outpatient appointments (which rarely coincide with a clinical need) can be significantly improved through better communication and increased patient engagement. “There is a growing body of evidence that self-management works for patients with rheumatoid arthritis”, said James Galloway, consultant rheumatologist at King’s College Hospital. “Equally, the burden that long-term conditions such as RA place on the NHS is unsustainable and the time is right to develop and advocate for new, digitally enabled models of
The My Arthritis app facilitates daily tracking care that could drive savings and quality improvement.” The app – which is free – is currently being used by many people living with RA and several hospitals are either using or about to start using the platform to manage their patients remotely when appropriate. https://www.nras.org.uk http://ampersandhealth.co.uk
ONE in three people over 80 are unpaid carers for sick or disabled relatives, according to Age UK. It is estimated that they save our economy an incredible £23 billion a year through the unpaid care they give loved ones. Responding to the figures, Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Most people over 80 have health problems and can do less than they once could, so the fact they are providing £23 billion’s worth of unpaid care for others is a sure signal that our social care system is failing. “Older carers are far more likely to be caring for someone with multiple
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needs, dealing with complex conditions like dementia and physical disabilities. Yet often they care alone, unable to take a break or step out the door for long, leaving their own needs at the wayside. “Older carers who have contributed – and continue to contribute – so much to our society deserve far better. “This crisis in social care needs to be taken seriously by all politicians. We urge the Prime Minister and his Government to acknowledge our country’s carers by taking firm steps towards delivering an enduring social care solution.”
Image: rawpixel/Freepik
Over-80s provide £23 billion of unpaid care
Older carers are often unable to take a break or step out the door for long
