Key Takeaways
- Croydon Sexual Health will implement Inform Health’s personal health record system in spring 2025 to manage rising patient demand.
- The new system will empower patients to self-manage their sexual health, including booking appointments and ordering testing kits.
- The integration aims to improve communication, streamline service delivery, and enhance patient and staff experiences.
New Digital Health Initiative
Croydon Sexual Health, part of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, is set to introduce Inform Health’s patient-facing personal health record (PHR) in spring 2025. This initiative aims to address growing demand for services by empowering patients to take charge of their sexual health management.
The PHR will enable patients to easily book appointments and order sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing kits and contraception through a streamlined, intelligent triage process. Jamal Smith-John, operations manager for sexual health and HIV at Croydon Health Services, emphasized the advantages of having services integrated into a single digital platform. He stated, “This integration makes patient care smoother and safer, allowing for more efficient resource allocation.”
The PHR represents a significant advancement in the digital transformation of services. It will improve communication with patients, enhance access to essential information, and provide a modern patient portal for managing health information. Smith-John expressed optimism that the system would be user-friendly, enabling patients to access appointments, test results, and advice conveniently.
In addition to benefiting patients, the PHR is expected to positively impact both clinical and non-clinical staff by offering an intuitive platform to maintain high standards of care while managing workload effectively. The PHR will also integrate with laboratory systems to automate results notifications. This feature is designed to allow patients with straightforward health needs to access services online, thereby freeing up in-clinic resources for those with more complex requirements.
Sue Bunn, commercial director at Inform Health, remarked on the progressive nature of Croydon Sexual Health as the only London-based local authority commissioned service offering locally managed online screening and e-services. “Our partnership marks the next step in using technology to improve patient experience,” Bunn noted. She added that the aim is to provide a comprehensive view of the patient’s journey, further supporting the capacity to meet increasing demand with best practice integrated care.
This new initiative follows earlier reports about a chatbot developed by researchers at the University of Westminster, aimed at facilitating discussions on sensitive topics like sexual health screenings, which could also help reduce health inequalities. The combined efforts of these technological advancements highlight the commitment to improving accessibility and quality of care in sexual health services in London.
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