In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical team from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital have worked with CW Innovation partner Lumeon to add new capabilities to their award-winning postnatal digital solution, funded by CW+.

Using digital templates based on national clinical guidance means that mothers can receive detailed personalised digital postnatal discharge report alongside a discharge letter in a patient-friendly language, with minimal impact of frontline staff workload.

“Not only are mothers keen to leave the hospitals more quickly due to the outbreak, they’re also less likely to have face to face contacts with their community midwives or health visitors,” said Dr Sunita Sharma, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

“Together with Lumeon, we have worked hard to meet the needs of new mothers to ensure that they and everyone caring for them have all the relevant guidance relating to ongoing postnatal care and concerns, and these enhancements also support the frontline junior postnatal ward team members.”

Lumeon’s new capabilities:

• use auto-populated templates based on national clinical guidance to personalise postnatal care plans and reduce variation in discharge information, which can be influenced by time pressures and junior rotational workforce
• improve women’s access to information that’s pertinent to their recovery, health and wellbeing.

The patient’s digital discharge report and letter transfer is integrated with the NHS Care Information Exchange, Patients Know Best (PKB) platform to provide them a digital record, that can be shared with community professionals if required.

Jenny Thomas, Programme Director, for DigitalHealth.London said: “This partnership at Chelsea and Westminster involving both an alumnus, Lumeon, and a current Accelerator SME Patients Know Best, is a fantastic example of how DigitalHealth.London and our partners are enabling digital health to improve care for patients and NHS staff. Here digital innovation is empowering women at a time when they are often at their most vulnerable, just after having a baby and supporting them to recover at home with their family.”

CW Innovation, led jointly by CW+ and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, identifies and delivers new high–impact innovation initiatives and improvements that support the goal of delivering operational excellence, and exceptional patient care and experience in a world-class clinical environment. Together, we look for new and innovative solutions to address the most fundamental challenges healthcare organisations face today. Click here to find out more about CW Innovation and how it is transforming care.