CVD is the single biggest condition where lives can be saved by the NHS over the next decade. There are 7.6 million people living with CVD in the UK, and Cardiovascular Disease is a leading cause of premature disability, mortality, and health inequalities, and responsible for one in four deaths each year (British Heart Foundation UK Factsheet). The UK Health Security Agency estimates that the annual healthcare costs in England relating to CVD are around £7.4 billion, with an annual cost to the wider economy of £15.8 billion.
PocDoc has been awarded a major contract to dramatically increase access to cholesterol testing outside of a traditional GP surgery environment, including at-home, on the high street and in other community settings.
Using PocDoc’s world-first app based 5 marker lipid test, powered by their diagnostic cloud, results will be immediately shared back via secure API with a central team of clinicians and pharmacists who are able to take action immediately, dramatically shortening time to treatment and tackling the NHS backlog.
This central team and ongoing clinical support is being provided to PocDoc as part of this contract by teams at the AHSN North East North Cumbria, headed by Professor Julia Newton and at SMASH Primary Care network, headed by digital innovation advocate and GP lead Dr Neil Paul.
The contract has been awarded by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC), which is a partnership between patient groups, government bodies, industry and the NHS hosted by NHS England, through the SBRI. It heralds a renewed focus on tackling CVD through addressing access to diagnostic testing, prevention, case identification and quicker treatment.
The AAC has awarded a small number of contracts to the most innovative companies in the UK that can have the biggest real-world impact within the NHS system for cardiovascular disease.
Matt Whitty, CEO of the AAC, said “These awards will help the NHS to develop new technologies and solutions to address some of the biggest healthcare challenges facing society. We have selected these innovations because they have the potential to make a big difference to patients. By supporting the most promising innovations the NHS will continue to evolve, helping meet more patients’ needs and encouraging more innovators to come forward with ideas that make a difference.”
Steve Roest, CEO of PocDoc said “We are on a mission to deliver a step change increase in access to testing for cardiovascular disease and this NHS contract is a major validation of our approach, our technology and our ambition. We look forward to working with colleagues in the NHS to deliver real impact – both for patients and the system itself.
