Outcomes

Clinical outcomes, national awards and publications

Delivering change and improving outcomes

Our digital therapeutic toolkits provide support for patients promoting the type of behaviours that result in improved outcomes and reduce the burden on the health system. Here is a selection of recent outcomes and publications to show the kind of difference they can make.

“I’m enormously proud of what has been created. It shows what can really be achieved when true innovation is embraced, and I cannot underestimate the dedication and commitment of the team at ICST and Professor Chris Davies, without whose expertise none of this would have been possible.”

Dr Simon Barry, National Respiratory Clinical Lead, NHS Wales

Benefits to Patients

0 %

Of patients surveyed say the app helps them manage their condition

0 %

Decrease in patients who rely on their rescue medication to stay well

0 %

Improvement in monthly wellness scores

Benefits to the Health System

0 %

Decrease in A&E visits

0 %

Decrease in GP visits

0 %

reduction in bed days

Financial Savings

Million

£ 0

Annual cost saving per ICS for reduced unscheduled GP attendances

Million

£ 0

Annual cost saving per ICS for reduced A&E attendances

Million

£ 0

Cost saving by reducing in-patient stays in one healthboard alone

Scale and Adoption

Benefiting millions of patients

0 %

Of GP Practices have patients using the toolkit

0 %

Of GP Practices have healthcare professionals using the toolkit

"Since using the app, I’ve got a newfound sense of control over my COPD. The app helps me navigate my condition with confidence and make better decisions. With its help, I've been able to keep my symptoms in check, and have had fewer sick days and doctor visits. It's been a game-changer"

“In terms of promoting self-management, a lot of my patients are more interested now because they want to learn more about their condition and avoid presenting to hospital, so these self-management apps are ideal for my role”

“This is the most helpful development in healthcare that I can remember in 35 years as a GP.”

“Certainly, in secondary care across Wales, it’s been recognised that the platform has been fantastic during the COVID pandemic, for us to have rapid updates on hospital care for an area which has been obviously very confusing, worrying and often with conflicting information. I think that when you have these pathways on this interactive setting, it can really help you tease out what you need to do.”

“This framework is an exemplar for how centralised and co-ordinated infrastructure can be adapted to support agile and effective public health responses.“

“By focusing on standardisation and reducing variation using national guidelines, and developing an impressive digital infrastructure to create educational resources for the entire respiratory workforce, ...this is leading the way in many aspects in the UK”

Winner: NHS Partnership Awards

Environmental Sustainability Project of the Year

“The judges recognised this project for its clear and ambitious goals, noting significant progress against the desired outcomes and spread. The broad engagement of stakeholders and impressive expansion have resulted in meaningful impact and a potential for further expansion.

The winner is….. The Institute of Clinical Science and Technology & NHS Wales”

HSJ Judges

Winner (Silver): NHS Partnership Awards

Long-term Partnership with the NHS

"I am thrilled that ICST won this award, their unwavering support over the past 8 years has meant that patients and healthcare professionals alike have benefitted, and the partnership has been able to achieve these incredible outcomes"

Dr Simon Barry, National Respiratory Clinical Lead, NHS Wales

Winner: HSJ Digital Awards 2023

Moving Towards Net Zero Through Digital

“The judges felt that this was an impressive combination of patient empowerment and professional support networks. The extensive rollout and immense potential for application are truly commendable. The panel was particularly impressed by the continuous improvement demonstrated through the implementation process.

The winner is….. The Institute of Clinical Science and Technology & NHS Wales”

HSJ Judges

Winner: HSJ Digital Awards 2023

Generating Impact in Population Health Through Digital

“The judges felt that this was an impressive combination of patient empowerment and professional support networks. The extensive rollout and immense potential for application are truly commendable. The panel was particularly impressed by the continuous improvement demonstrated through the implementation process.

The winner is….. The Institute of Clinical Science and Technology & NHS Wales”

HSJ Judges

Winner: MediWales

Scaling Up Innovation and Transformation Award

"Excellent. This platform deserves every award it gets"

Dr. Mark Taubert, Palliative Care Consultant

BMJ Journals

Utilizing implementation science software (ISS) to successfully reach full implementation of an intervention at scale and pace

Full implementation at scale and pace is reached using implementation science software (ISS), outperforming traditional approaches by nine fold.

Published article from Dr Simon Barry, Respiratory Lead for Wales.

ICST Survey report

ICST digital programmes reduce the burden on frontline services. Among regular users of the ICST respiratory apps, 36% reduce their visits to the GP, and 19% reduce their admissions to A&E, following improved wellness scores.

Asthma and Lung UK

Recovery and reset for respiratory: restoring and improving basic care for patients with lung disease

The respiratory apps are endorsed by Asthma UK and BLF (now Asthma + Lung UK), in their post-COVID report about restoring and improving basic care for patients with lung disease.

Asthma UK – British Lung Foundation Cymru Wales

Press Release: People with asthma and COPD urged to download new NHS Wales apps to stay well this winter

Asthma UK endorse the respiratory apps in a press release – ‘Alone, breathless during lockdown – the app that offered hope and support.’

Royal College of Physicians

Wales primary care clinical audit report 2020

The 2021 NACAP Audit showed an increase in referrals to pulmonary rehab for patients with COPD in Wales, supported by the National Respiratory Toolkit.

NACAP audit 2021

A National Coordinated Response to COVID-19 in Wales

As a trusted partner of the NHS during the COVID pandemic, ICST delivered high-quality digital toolkits in a matter of weeks to the healthcare professionals that needed it, when they needed it.

Chief Medical Officer Special Report

Protecting Our Health: Our response in Wales to the first phase of COVID-19

Detailing how ICST are supporting clinicians to provide the best, evidence-based care for their patients, The COVID toolkit was praised by the Chief Medical Officer in his 2021 “Protecting our Health” Report.

Chief Medical Officer of Wales

ResearchGate

Evaluating The Implementation of A National COVID-19 Hospital Guideline In Wales

Implementation Science methodology results in positive outcomes when implementing a National Clinical Guideline to standardise the management of acute COVID-19 in Hospitals across Wales.

Authors: Rhys Jefferies, Mark Ponsford, Simon Barry

Welsh Government

Adferiad (Recovery) long COVID programme

Minister for Health Eluned Morgan outlines the benefits the NHS Wales COVID Recovery app has brought to patients suffering from long COVID in her 2021 report on the Aferiad programme. The Long COVID app was a success of co-production with patients.

Published 15 June 2021

The Pharmaceutical Journal

Class action: how we are improving the treatment of asthma by going into schools

The Respiratory apps improve the efficiency of consultations and promote shared decision making with healthcare professionals, a key principle of Value Based Care.