[U]HMBT is joining the likes Trip Advisor, Spotify and Google Maps by introducing their own native apps to the Apple and Android App Stores, making them one of the first acute hospital trusts in the North West to launch their own smartphone app.
The ‘Morecambe Bay NHS App’ has been developed as a new communications channel for the region’s patients and visitors to support their care with UHMBT. The app, which is available to download for free on Android and Apple phones, will provide easy access to hospital visiting times, directions to hospital sites and key departmental information. The latest digital innovation from UHMBT will ensure that patient care information can be available on the move and at the fingertips of all those with access to a smartphone or tablet.
With an increasing range of online and print information available, it’s important that patients and visitors can get quick and easy access to the exact information they need. The new app will feature all of the Trust’s latest news and events, as well as ‘1-touch’ calls, which allow patients to make direct calls to UHMBT departments via the app.
The app has been developed by UHMBT following patient experience feedback, which has looked at the increasing need to work across a diverse range of age groups and information preferences. It’s expected that the app will meet the needs of those patients who prefer to access their care information digitally and on the move, including those who are waiting for appointments.
The ‘Morecambe Bay NHS App’ is the latest communications channel to be launched by UHMBT as part of a continual process of providing an excellent health care service and looking for ways to improve how the Trust communications with their patients.
The app is now available to download from the Apple, Google Play or Android store, by searching the name ‘Morecambe Bay Hospitals’ app.
Aaron Cummins, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance, UHMBT, said: “We are delighted with the latest addition to the way we communicate with our patients with the ‘Morecambe Bay NHS App’. It is essential that we share information with our patients and local communities regularly and we are aware that different people require communication in a different ways. That’s why we’re working hard to improve all of our channels of communication, for example, our patient letters and information leaflets and our digital channels, such as our websites and social media profiles across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
“While we will always strive to make key messages and information as accessible as possible, across a wide range of areas, including both online and offline literature, it’s important that we cater for as many people as possible. After listening to patient and visitor feedback it became clear that a dedicated UHMBT app would be a valuable addition to our network of patient information.”
Lynne Wyre, Deputy Chief Nurse, UHMBT, added: “I am incredibly excited that we are launching the new ‘Morecambe Bay NHS App’. This development is the next step in making sure that information is easily accessible to patients, visitors and members of the public in a format they prefer. This is a wonderful example of what happens when we listen, learn and respond to feedback about the experience of those who are using our services.”
