Digital app is helping to improve wound care across the Trust
An award-winning clinical innovation project to improve remote wound care management supported by CPFT’s Older People, Adults and Community directorate (OPAC) and Head to Toe Charity will continue to make a difference, as more nurses are trained to use Healthy IO’s Minuteful for wound app in our community services.
The NHS spends £8.3bn on wound care every year, which is more than smoking and obesity related diseases. At CPFT, 50% of our community nurses’ activity involves wound care management and tackling variations in care, improving data and oversight are key areas to make the service sustainable and efficient.
The Healthy IO wound care management project started in July 2022 with two community nursing teams in Huntingdon. Since being trained to use the Minuteful for wound app, the nurses have seen the accuracy and consistency of wound measurements improve, with standardised wound recording supporting best practice and patient flow. The app has also been piloted to support care for inpatients on Trafford Ward in Wisbech, with funding from CPFT's NHS Charity Head to Toe - donated in gratitude to the ward team for the exceptional patient care they deliver.
Clinical lead for the project Sally-Anne Bradford (pictured left above) reported: “Real time data recorded at the bedside has reduced the administrative burden, making referrals more timely and ensuring patients are on the right care pathway. Our nurses have been able to show their patients the progression of each wound on the app and help them engage with their care and treatment plan. The virtual oversight of the wound caseload supports timely care decisions by quickly identifying static and deteriorating wounds and highlighting those that have healed within the desired time frame.”
CPFT’s Clinical Innovation Delivery Lead Emily Faulkner said: “We are pleased to confirm that following improvements in care quality, enhanced staff satisfaction as well as time and money saved by teams using the Healthy IO app, the community nurses will continue to use this innovation for another year. We look forward to working with teams in Peterborough and the Fenlands to extend the app roll out, and a full evaluation will be carried out after a year.”
OPAC Operations Director Ashton Ntuli said: “Well done to all involved in this project and thank you to everyone across our services supporting it. This is a great example of innovation supporting our teams to deliver better care. With the input and dedication of our community and ward staff to trial a different way of working, they have ensured this technology can be applied successfully to make a positive change.”
Any CPFT colleagues who have ideas or technology to address the Trust’s challenges and clinical priorities can contact our Clinical Innovation Project Manager Lorna Hamblin, or make a suggestion in this online form.
