HUNDREDS of Dorset patients will receive mobile phone apps free on the NHS to help them self-manage long-term health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

My mhealth, based in Bournemouth, already provides digital health apps to thousands of people across the country to help prevent patients becoming seriously unwell and needing hospital treatment, saving the NHS money.

Now they have been awarded a contract by NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and over the next 12 months will introduce apps to more than 1000 patients in the county who are suffering with diabetes, COPD and heart disease.

The apps, which have been tried and tested in patient populations in clinical trials, can be used on almost any device that connects to the internet.

My mhealth CEO Simon Bourne said: “The internet is used by many patients as part of their everyday routine. This is an exciting opportunity for a company based in Dorset to enhance current services.

“Patients using these applications are educated to self-manage, adapt their lifestyle and manage their medication through a simple, easy to use interface. These apps will support current clinical services to deliver enhanced quality care at a scale that could never be achieved without a massive workforce expansion.”

The apps myDiabetes, myHeart and myCOPD help people manage their condition on their smartphone, tablet or computer. The apps advise patients on management plans and exercise programs including when to take their medication and how to perform certain exercises to improve their health and wellbeing. The data can be accessed by doctors or nurses to help monitor and manage care and deliver the best treatment.

Nichola Arathoon, principal programme lead at Dorset CCG said: “The provision of self-management digital apps for people with diabetes, heart disease and COPD has been the missing link in providing a truly joined up service for patients, and we look forward to studying the outcomes of these interventions over the coming year.”

Last year NHS England’s chief executive Simon Stevens announced a major drive to use technology.

He said: “At a time when the NHS is under pressure, rather than just running harder to stand still, it’s time to grab with both hands these practical new treatments and technologies.”

The my mhealth website reads: “myAsthma, myCOPD, myDiabetes and myHeart are powerful tools when used by patients but really come into their own when delivered with their clinical team. We can deliver improved outcomes whilst delivering massive cost savings. Just in COPD alone we can deliver the same outcomes as gold standard rehab programs, improve patient adherence to medication and correct inhaler technique in 98 per cent of patients.”