Three North West London health and care providers will receive dedicated support to test a cutting-edge innovation that addresses challenges around Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) screening and detection, with a focus on underserved communities who are at risk of poorer health outcomes.
These Implementation Sites will be the first to test PocDoc in NW London: a digital platform that combines rapid diagnostic testing with access to healthcare pathways. The novel point-of-care cholesterol test can provide fully quantified lipid results in under 10 minutes. These results are automatically sent to patients and can be shared with clinicians via NHS Mail and GP Connect.
Imperial College Health Partners (ICHP), the Health Innovation Network and innovation partner for NW London, coordinated this call for sites as part of the region’s research and innovation Mission to Optimise Care for Long-Term Conditions (starting with CVD). This is a collaborative, joined-up approach which is aligning the priorities and resource of health and care organisations across the patch.
The first multi-organisation sites to test PocDoc will be in the following boroughs:
- Brent
- Westminster
Supported by funding from the NHS NW London Health Equity team, each of the Implementation Sites will receive dedicated, expert support via a multi-disciplinary team, including setup, testing, pathway development and operational support. The sites will also be provided with a comprehensive programme evaluation. The sites will receive up to 350 free PocDoc tests for residents in their area.
By implementing PocDoc in these Sites, the system aims to address health inequalities by providing an additional way for staff to screen for CVD, which doesn’t involve residents and patients visiting their GP. This is particularly beneficial for people with childcare and work responsibilities, those facing transport barriers, and residents who are less likely to engagement with the health system in general.
Identifying those at the highest risk of CVD earlier, and ensuring they receive the right treatment, will save lives in NW London.
Clare Thomson, Innovation Lead at Imperial College Health Partner, said:
We know CVD is a problem across the country, but this is especially true in In NW London, where CVD is responsible for 4,000 strokes, 2,500 heart attacks and 3,000 deaths each year– as well as being one of the largest contributors to health inequalities, with major inequity around access to services. We’re excited to be part of the team testing PocDoc, which has the potential to detect the disease quicker, closer to resident’s homes, and allow the system to intervene earlier.
Steve Roest, CEO at PocDoc, commented:
We are thrilled to announce the first phase of this project with Imperial College Health Partners, funded by NW London ICB, to bring essential CVD health screenings to underserved communities in NW London. Our patented technology is driving a step change in how we tackle chronic diseases.
Health inequality is a major issue in the UK. Providing additional, easy-to-access screening opportunities for chronic diseases like CVD is essential to closing this gap. By offering touch testing points throughout the community, this partnership will make it easier for individuals to take preventative action on their health, without needing to visit their GP.
If you work in CVD in NW London and want to learn more about how you can become part of our Mission, please get in touch.
Testing of PocDoc via these three Implementation Sites is part of the NW London research and innovation Mission to Optimise Care for Long-Term Conditions (Starting with CVD) – alongside Enabling More Days at Home and Supporting Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
You can see more about our work on this Mission here.
