The NHS Commissioning Board is looking for good examples of online tools to help people improve their health and wellbeing. It is creating a directory of online tools, often called apps, to help people find the best online tool for their condition or health need.  People and organisations who are designing online tools for specific conditions or health areas are invited to submit these for consideration for the directory.

The directory will be a trusted listing of online health and care tools, all of which will be accessible from mobile devices or PCs. The tools will help people use good information to make choices about their health and care. People will be able to input their own health details to receive personalised information through the tool and then share this with their clinicians or care staff if they choose to do so.

The directory will cover a wide spectrum of health and care and focus on innovative ways of using digital technology to improve health and care. Examples of the sort of online tool that would be included in the directory include:

• Care planning to support people living with one or more long-term condition in which they can create online care plans, record their experiences and invite their carers to see these online.

• Information and advice for older people, particularly if this can help reduce isolation and loneliness

• Networks for patients with specific health conditions that allow them to link up with similar patients, share information and their experiences and provide feedback on services.

Revealed at Innovation Expo in March 2013 the first version of the directory of online tools will showcase the best customer focussed innovation in health and care and feature in the exhibition’s App Zone.

Developers and organisations who want to get involved can email tools.feedback@nhs.net to arrange to speak to the team in the next two weeks.

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