GP out-of-hours app Doc Abode launches in Leeds

5 April 2019

Multi-award-winning app Doc Abode, which matches the availability, expertise and location of GPs to the needs of NHS patients who require an out-of-hours home visit is being launched in partnership with Local Care Direct in the Leeds area.

The app has been developed by Bradford GP Dr Taz Aldawoud, who believes it will help deliver faster and more personalised care to NHS patients needing to see a clinician outside surgery hours.

Currently, patients who need urgent medical help but it’s not a 999 emergency are encouraged to call 111. The call is triaged and assessed and if a home visit is required, details are passed through to an out-of-hours provider which assigns the visit to a response vehicle with a driver and clinician. Like many NHS services, out-of-hours’ providers are often stretched, face challenges in filling rotas and the high demand for out-of-hours visits sometimes leading to long wait times for patients.

Doc Abode seeks to change the status quo by opening up access to a wider, more flexible workforce, providing clinicians with an alternative to shift-based work which culminates in the delivery of better care and an improved patient experience.

Dr Aldawoud who developed this idea in partnership with Medipex Ltd, a healthcare innovation hub, says, “Doc Abode was created to support the NHS workforce of the future, through the provision of technology to meet the increasing demand and complex needs of patients. We believe Doc Abode will transform healthcare delivery, helping healthcare providers enhance their traditional model to provide operational resilience, reduce clinical risk and minimise unscheduled hospital attendances.”

Healthcare providers have access to a live control panel where home visit requests are posted to the Doc Abode network for clinicians to respond to.

The Doc Abode platform uses algorithms to match appropriate clinicians with the requirements of the home visit. Healthcare providers can ‘push’ home visit requests to available clinicians through a smartphone app where they can securely access the patient information. The visit is monitored, and the outcome is reported back to the healthcare provider, closing the loop in line with their standard operating procedures.

An independent assessment stated that the total potential savings to the NHS from avoidance of unnecessary A&E attendances and hospital admissions is £33.7 million per year.

Stephen Taylor-Parker, Head of Business Development at Medipex says, “We’re really honoured to be involved in this award-winning idea that avoids unnecessary A&E admissions by providing high quality, timely decision making and enabling appropriate workforce capacity in the urgent care system.”

Dr Nighat Sultan, a GP Partner and Locality Lead GP, who was part of the original pilot for Doc Abode says: “What I love about it is the convenience, flexibility and the ability to work from home. What was even greater was the feedback from the patients, they loved the prompt service. And in the ten visits I made, I’m sure two of them avoided an unplanned admission into A&E.”

Visit the Doc Abode website to find out more.

Clinicians interested in joining can also visit the Doc Abode website for more information and to register.