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NHS

Spotlights:
Specialist Care and Long Term Conditions

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ChatHealth

ChatHealth is used by several specialist nursing teams to allow service users to access advice and support directly from specialist health care professionals.

Recent implementations have included a Specialist Autism Team (SAT) in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Children’s Diabetes Services in Shropshire and Kirklees.

Download ChatHealth product guide
Visit ChatHealth website

  • offered in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for autistic people with autism and  their family, carers and allies.
  • provide confidential health advice and support on a range of issues including Emotional Wellbeing, Healthy lifestyle (sleep, diet etc), Healthy relationships, Finding support and Understanding autism

 

Impacts between April 2023 and March 2024:

Number of Contacts

632

messaging conversations

(2023-24)

Top reasons for contact

  • Parenting advice/support
  • Emotional health and wellbeing
  • Understanding behaviour
(2023-24)

What Service Users Say

“It’s a super service for people who have autism. It’s nice to have advice on how to proceed when issues arise. It can be used out and about also, which is beneficial.”

(2023-24)

What Staff Users Say

“Studies show text messaging is a less stressful way for autistic people to communicate. It can be easier for autistic people to understand what the other person means than conversing in person.”

(2023-24)

Media


News article
by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust on piloting ChatAutism

Find out more

Learn more about the ChatAutism service in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

  • Offered to support families of children and young people aged 0-19 with diabetes
  • Enabled families to directly contact their local Children’s Diabetes Nursing service to get help with concerns around diabetes technology, insulin adjustment and sick days, as well as appointment information.

 

Impacts between April 2023 and March 2024:

Number of Contacts

1,555

messaging conversations

(2023-24)

Top Reasons for Contact

  • Diabetes technology
  • Insulin adjustment
  • Sick days
(2023-24)

Busiest Times for Contact

On Tuesdays & Wednesdays between 09:00 – 14:00

(2023-24)

Feedback from a Service User

“Yes, it has helped. If for any reason I am worried about anything I can text one of the nurses for advice.”

(2023-24)

Feedback from a Staff User

“It is an excellent service. Patients and parents and carers can text us whenever. No member of staff ever needs to worry about missing a message.”

(2023-24)

Evidence

Case study on using ChatHealth for children’s diabetes support

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HealthGuidance

HealthGuidance is an online portal that can be used by specialist healthcare teams to deliver prescribed health information. Ideal for supporting service users that are receiving specialist treatment or with long term conditions.

More than 30 health content libraries are now available on HealthGuidance. This consists of high-quality video content and written resources produced and curated by a number of innovative CAMHS and specialist Paediatric teams to support children and young people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland with specialist health needs such as:

  • sensory difficulties
  • co-ordination difficulties
  • continence issues
  • neurological conditions, such as autism or ADHD
  • and various other health needs

Download HealthGuidance product guide

HealthGuidance is helping community and specialist health teams to:

  • Enable patients to access clinically assured content specific to their health needs
  • Significantly reduce waiting list times
  • Empower patients (and parents/carers) to consume information at a suitable time and pace

Number of contacts

3,076

users have registered accounts to access specialist content

Number of sessions

9,507

visitors in 2022-2023

Case study

Download this case study on how HealthGuidance is being used to support children newly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

What staff users say

“HealthGuidance has done wonders for our service! It has given us extra staff capacity, deliver targeted interventions, reduced waiting times and families are now receiving information faster for their children diagnosed with ASD.”