Hospital among first in NHS to trial cancer care app

(L-R) Caroline Salt, Anita Ratcliffe, Pat Dyminski and Holly Gilmore from the cancer team at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

A Keighley hospital has become the first NHS medical centre in the North to pilot a new app to support cancer patients.

For the next 14 months the cancer team at Airedale General Hospital will offer the Careology app, which provides round-the-clock support.

The app is designed to help users manage their treatment and side-effects, as well as update their records between appointments.

Lead cancer nurse Caroline Salt successfully bid for £238,000 of funding for the trial from the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance.

Caroline Salt with one of the posters promoting the new app

She said: "We're the first hospital in the North to be able to trial it which is very exciting.

"This isn't about substituting any nursing or medical staff, this is about supplementing the care we can already give."

Every new and current patient at the hospital receiving cancer care can download the app which was created by private firm Careology.

They can use it to get information and guidance about how they are feeling and whether or not they need to contact the hospital.

Friends and family can also use a Caregiver app to get help or advice with the consent of the patient.

Ms Salt joined Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in 2023 and hers was among 57 bids for the Cancer Alliance's innovation competition last May.

Only four were chosen for funding.

She said: "If you are a cancer patient, or a carer of someone with cancer, and you are being treated at Airedale I would definitely urge you to download the app.

"This is a pilot and we are really keen to hear our patients and make sure we provide the best cancer care possible at Airedale Hospital."

'Improve care'

The Careology app is used by the Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital, both in London and also works within the private sector including Nuffield Health.

Jason Pawluk, managing director of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, said: "We invested in this impressive proposal because of the opportunities to improve care for people receiving mainly non-surgical oncology treatments.

"And also the possibility of sharing learning from Airedale more widely across the patch, subject to evaluation."

There are 21 Cancer Alliances in the UK which were set up to improve diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients in their local area.

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