New Careology app launched for patients with cancer
From today, (Monday 3 February 2025) the launch of the Careology app will make Airedale the first NHS Trust in the North to offer this new digital innovation. It has been funded by a winning bid to the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance as part of its innovation competition, and it was chosen for its opportunities to improve and personalise patient care.
Cancer treatment can be overwhelming, with so much to manage on a daily basis. Alongside care from the cancer team, Careology is there to support patients around the clock. It works with their healthcare teams to help self-manage aspects of their treatment including medication, side effects and symptoms. The patient-reported data will be available for Airedale cancer teams to see how patients are managing their treatment and enable them to intervene early should someone need acute care.
Day-to-day, Careology helps patients keep on top of everything, with relevant guidance and advice on how to manage symptoms and side effects, and reminders of appointments and when to take medications. Their family and friends can even see how they’re doing through their own Caregiver app. It provides useful tools to support them, such as recipes to cook, so they feel connected and cared for.
Every new and current patient at the hospital receiving cancer care will be eligible to download the app and access support on how to use it.
About the app:
- Provides 24/7 Support – Careology ‘listens’ to you, to provide specific information and guidance based on how you’re feeling and the symptoms you’re experiencing.
- All in one place – from an appointment calendar to a digital journal, Careology takes care of your treatment admin so everything is safely stored, quick to view and easily visible to your healthcare team.
- A guide – Careology doesn’t just support, it guides as well, helping you focus on what you need to do that day. Whether that’s to remember medication or feedback symptoms.
- For your family & friends there is more information and more peace of mind, to feel able to support you better.
The Careology app has been designed with patients who face the challenges of a cancer diagnosis to really understand their needs. For the teams providing care, it keeps them better informed and well-equipped to provide care specific to the patient’s diagnosis, treatment and needs.
Caroline Salt, Lead Cancer Nurse at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, says:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust cancer teams to continue their approach in delivering personalised care for our patients. We are working hard to provide care closer to home, promoting digital innovation and ensuring patients feel informed, supported and empowered in their treatment journey, at a time when they can feel very vulnerable.
Due to the vast geographical area we cover, coming into hospital can be challenging, but having the confidence in a clinically validated app will help to reassure those who may need it.”
Paul Landau, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Careology, commented:
“We are thrilled to be working with Airedale to address some of the challenges that cancer care is facing across the UK and beyond. As incidence rates of cancer rise, Careology’s technology is uniquely placed to enable more efficient care. By giving oversight of how patients are outside of their appointments, those who need in-person or urgent care can be triaged effectively. Not only does this improve individuals’ experience of treatment but also improves efficiency and services at a higher level.”
Jason Pawluk, Managing Director of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, says:
“As in previous years, our innovation competition attracted high quality entries from across the local system, and this was no exception. We invested in this impressive proposal because of the opportunities to improve care for people receiving mainly non-surgical oncology treatments and the possibility of sharing learning from Airedale more widely across the patch, subject to evaluation.
“Cancer Alliances promote digital innovation opportunities as part of the measures proposed in the new NHS ten-year plan, including promoting personalisation, choice, and reduced barriers to access for people affected by cancer.”
For more information visit the Careology page on the Trust website here.
For more information visit the Careology page on the Airedale Hospital Trust website here.
Story courtesy of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
