Caerphilly start-up Signum Health has been selected as one of only 34 companies to be recognised as offering the highest potential to help NHS England meet the challenges of an ageing population and scarce resources.
The prestigious NHS accelerator scheme, which has already saved in excess of £50 million for the NHS, is designed to work intensively with digital companies to refine, develop and scale their innovation across the NHS and social care sector.
This is the first year the Accelerator has been launched outside London, with the South West Accelerator choosing just five companies, Signum Health being one.
Signum Health’s i-Navigator is a Social Prescribing tool which supports people in need of non-clinical care such as anxiety and depression, loneliness and isolation and weight loss.
With its integrated ecosystem of providers, i-navigator enables individuals and professionals across all care sectors to easily identify and refer to a range of accredited and user rated services, whilst providing feedback direct into the patient’s medical record.
I-navigator is designed to reduce unnecessary GP appointment time and allow patients to access non-clinical support from home and at a time and place convenient to them.
Signum Health’s CEO Victoria Norman said: “Signum Health’s core goal is to enable patients, pharmacies, GPs and other alternative healthcare services, to work more efficiently by sharing health information in a way that benefits everyone.
“To have been accepted on such a prestigious accelerator programme directly linked to the NHS in England is amazing for us. For the next year we will be mentored by key people within the NHS, introduced to innovators within the health sector and fully supported to grow and expand i-Navigator.”
Ms Norman added: “Digital technology is getting more acceptance in the NHS, combine this with an increasing understanding of the social impact on health and a better understanding of the advantage of alternative health and digital solutions – has put Signum Health in pole position to take full advantage of this opportunity.
“Social prescribing is key to the future of the NHS, as well as Signum Health’s other core product which offers remote online clinical diagnosis rather than by a face to face consultation, and we are proud to be working with the NHS accelerator to make our vision for Signum Health come to life.
“It’s widely reported that pressure on GPs is increasing, so digital technology could create efficiencies, financial savings and ultimately better care for patients.
“Through using Signum Health’s digital solutions, people can take control of their own health, access care quickly and effectively, whilst allowing the healthcare workforce to be used in a more prudent way.”