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PCNs using a digital health and wellbeing coaching tool have reported a reduction in GP appointments following its rollout.
The app, called Holly Health, uses a chatbot and algorithms to get to know patients and recommend specific health habits for them. It then reminds the patient of these habits, tracks completions, mood and energy.
Across an eight-week period, primary care services that use Holly Health, including over 20 PCNs, reported 0.22 fewer appointments among those who used the service. Over a year, this could equate to 1.4 fewer appointments per patient who uses the tool.
The largest drop in appointments was among the higher risk patients, with those with type 2 diabetes using an estimated 6.5 fewer appointments per year, based on their eight week average. Appointment usage among those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease also dropped by an average of 3.25 per year.
Since its launch in 2021, the service has worked with 180 NHS primary care providers and supported 35,000 patients.
This includes in the Scotland Ayrshire region, where it is used by around 5,000 patients per year. Alongside a reduction in appointments by around 1.95 per user per year following using the app for eight weeks, they also saw an improvement in health outcomes. There was an 18% average improvement in mental wellbeing in users who started with a low to medium mood at baseline, and a 15% increase in exercise.
Steve Woodford, non-executive director, NHS England, said: ‘In the pursuit of sustainable healthcare solutions, the importance of population-scalable technologies cannot be overstated. Holly Health exemplifies the kind of innovation crucial for empowering individuals to proactively maintain well-being and longevity—an imperative need for the NHS’s progressive advancement.’
Grace Gimson, CEO and co-founder of Holly Health, said: ’The strong outcomes data from our coaching and habit change platform is something we’re incredibly proud of. At an individual level, we’re thrilled that the system is enabling patients to achieve behaviour changes and support better health outcomes. At a population health level, it demonstrates the substantial impact patient-centred technology can have on whole health economies and NHS sustainability.
‘We’re looking forward to extending on the appointment reductions data with a randomised control trial with Northumbria primary care, with a particular focus on patients with multimorbidity.’
Holly Health has also developed a return on investment calculator for PCN clinical directors and system leaders to understand how it could impact their network.
It was commissioned by local PCNs for use among both patients and staff in PCNs and is on the NHS innovation accelerator programme.
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