The document discusses the increasing use of mobile devices to access health information and services. It notes that over 75% of patients research their health condition online and over 50% use their phones to search for health information. There is also a growing market of health apps, with over 13,000 currently available. The document advocates that governments and health agencies should make their data freely available through open APIs in order to stimulate innovation from app developers and expand access to health information and services through mobile technologies.

1. m-libraries: information on the move September 2012
Widening access & stimulating innovation:
opening up NHS information for creative
mobile applications
Bob Gann
Director of Partnerships & Strategy
www.nhs.uk
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2. Health information is one of the web’s
most popular topics
When faced with a symptom:
• 75% of patients research their condition online before seeing
doctor
• And 70% go online afterwards to learn more
Having found health information online:
• 55% changed their lifestyle or health behaviour
• 52% made a self-diagnosis
• 49% started an over the counter treatment
Study commissioned by Google
from research company OTX
Reported on CNN Health 4 October 2010
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3. Not just information – people want to
transact too
31%
Look up health information 27%
10%
Ask for a repeat prescription 43%
Book GP, hospital or clinic 10%
appointment 42%
Communicate with you health 4% Do/ have done
professional 35% Would like to do
View or add information to health 2%
record 36%
Record your needs in advance of 2%
appointment e.g. disability 40%
Record how you want to be treated if
1%
you can't make your own decisions in 32%
the future
NHS Choices Omnibus household survey August 2012
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4. Going mobile
More mobile phones
than people in the
world
23% of online surfing
via mobile device
(40% of visits to NHS
Choices)
50% of iPhone users
have used their
phone to make a
health related search
Mobile Advertising Insights
Report: Health and Dating
Using the iPhone
Greystripe., February 2010 4

5. Apps explosion
Over 600,000 apps available – average of 65
per mobile device
More time spent using apps than on web
13,000 health apps for consumers
Medical, health & fitness apps on Apple App Store
Consumer health apps for Apple iPhone
MobiHealth News Report, September 2011
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6. Mobile ways of working – increasing convenience &
reducing cost in NHS • SMS appointment reminders
significantly reducing did not attends
(Portsmouth Hospitals)
• Remote scheduling and records access
for community staff (NHS Calderdale)
• SMS test results for sexual health
services (NHS Isle of Wight)
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7. Mobile in developing world
More mobile phones in
Africa than in USA
Ten years ago 100,000
phone lines in Nigeria –
today 100m mobile
phones
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8. Simple, ingenious SMS
solutions saving lives
30% medicines in developing
countries are fake
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9. Crowd sourced cities – responding to
public emergencies
• Multi-channel 311
service allows citizens to
report problems - &
services (& other
citizens) to respond
• Builds rich knowledge
base of citizen concerns
• Twitter knows first –
early alert to emerging
health problems
What a hundred
million calls to 311
reveal about New
York
Wired 1 Nov 2010
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10. At first NHS Choices developed its own
products
• Mobile version of www.nhs.uk
• SMS to find my nearest GP,
pharmacist, accident department
• Patient feedback pilot via SMS
• Healthy living apps
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11. Power of Information Strategy:
space to innovate
While Government should provide a core
set of information, it cannot try to provide
everything to everyone.
Within specific areas, there are already
organisations, often in the voluntary
sector, which can provide better-targeted
information. The Government will be clear
about what will need to be provided
centrally, giving others space to innovate.
Beyond this core information provided
nationally by Government and creating the
right environment to support the
development of an information market,
the state will not intervene in the
information market unless it is necessary to
prevent a significant negative impact on The power of information
outcomes, equalities or efficiency Department of Health, May 2012
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12. Syndication for partners to add value &
extend reach
Simple free APIs
350 active partners
Over 80m additional visits
a year
Social networks Media
NHS & local authorities Occupational health Other countries
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13. Increasing take up by apps developers
Health Choices Health AZ NHS West Midlands Find Health Services My tablet time
Windows, IOS, Android Windows, Android, Nokia IoS Nokia, Blackberry
Healthy Living Wellnote – Darzi Pocket Health NHS NEWS
EMIS
Blackberry IOS IOS,Windows , Android ios ios
13 Mobile Apps Platforms:
10 Companies
All Free
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14. Assuring quality
Do we need a different approach from any other sort of content?
Does European Medical
Device Directive apply?
Do we need health
apps store?
www.happtique.com
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15. Stimulating innovation & economic growth
• Value to the UK economy of releasing
free data estimated to be in the region of
£6bn a year
• US alone could derive more than $300bn
annually in new value from healthcare
related data
• Profitability of all SMEs could be
Competitions, hack days, improved by 5%
innovation showcases
Implementing the transparency agenda. Public
Accounts Committee, 2012
McKinsey Global Institute
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16. Our approach to the role of government
in today’s information market
• Produce core set of authoritative national content when this is best
done once and shared
• Provide simple, free to use feeds for all to re-use & add value
• Provide opportunities for ideas stimulation and match-making
• Curate and quality assure the best examples
• Stand back and let creative developers widen access & stimulate
innovation
bob.gann@dh.gsi.gov.uk
Twitter: @Bob_Gann
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