Technology developed by a Network-supported innovator is being sent by NHS England to 30,000 patients, who are considered most at risk for kidney disease.
Minuteful Kidney, from Healthy.io, is a home kidney albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) test. The trail is part of a £30 million technology and AI innovation fund.
Analysis suggests the device could help detect 1,300 cases of undiagnosed chronic kidney disease (CKD) over the coming months, as well as stopping some patients from developing end-stage renal disease – improving outcomes for individuals and reducing pressure on the NHS by preventing unplanned hospital admissions.
Patients place a small device in a urine sample before scanning the device into an app which gives immediate results on whether a patient may have a kidney condition. The test results are immediately uploaded to the patient’s electronic medical record for clinical review.
The National CKD Audit projects that for every 100 patients prevented from developing moderate to severe CKD through early detection, seven acute kidney injuries, six cardiovascular events, two ICU admissions and seven deaths are avoided.
Healthy.io has been supported by the Network across the 22 Integrated Care Boards where it operates. This has included assistance with research and evidence generation. The Network has also helped the innovator identify potential funding pots, as well as guide and navigate systems.
The app and device are being trialled in West Yorkshire as part of the national Health Technology Adoption Acceleration Fund, made available to local NHS teams to support faster deployment of promising innovations that would improve patient care by helping cut waiting lists, speed up diagnosis, or deliver new and improved ways to treat patients in time for winter.
Verena Stocker, Interim Director of Innovation, Research, Life Sciences and Strategy, NHS England said: “Every winter the NHS faces high demand with innovations helping to relieve pressure and provide ground-breaking early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatments.
“Innovations like those supported by this fund transform individual patient lives as well as bring significant benefits to the UK economy and to society as a whole.”
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