Digital cancer care is playing an increasingly critical role in better supporting people during and after their treatment.
Careology has developed a platform designed to help patients feel safe and well-equipped to manage their cancer treatment.
It connects patients with their friends, family and healthcare teams, enabling remote care that can help transform the way people live with cancer.
Patients can also monitor and share key health metrics such as symptoms, side effects and medication adherence.
Access to real-time information supports healthcare providers and services to deliver an efficient and scalable model of care, and has the potential to reduce pressure on the NHS where this results in lowering avoidable admissions and complications.
Through a new partnership, Careology and Macmillan Cancer are aiming to better support people living with cancer, their caregivers and their healthcare teams via digital cancer care.
Record numbers of people are coming forward for cancer tests, with almost a quarter of a million referrals in one month according to the latest data from the NHS.
According to Macmillan research, the shortage in specialist cancer nurses paired with excessive workload pressures, is having a significant impact on the care these patients receive.
Among people recently diagnosed in the UK who did not receive enough support from a specialist cancer nurse during their diagnosis or treatment, almost half (44 per cent), said this led to at least one of the following medical impacts:
- Being unsure about what side-effects of treatment they should be looking out for
- Being unsure if they were taking their medication correctly
- Ending up in A&E
To better support people during and after their treatment, Macmillan turned Careology to enable the charity to take a more holistic approach to patient and caregiver support by:
- Supporting and connects patients with friends, family and healthcare teams
- Enabling remote care that can help transform the way people live with cancer
- Enabling patients to monitor and share key health metrics such as symptoms, side effects and medication adherence.
- Allowing healthcare providers access to real-time information to deliver an efficient and scalable model of care
- Reducing pressure on the NHS by helping to lower avoidable admissions and complications.
A recent report by the National Audit Office estimates that up to 740,000 people in England with potential symptoms of cancer who should have been urgently referred by GPs since the first lockdown may have been “missed”.
“This is an extremely challenging time for cancer services and all those impacted,” says Paul Landau, Careology founder and CEO.
“Macmillan shares our belief that providing personalised, accessible, patient-centred digital support is paramount to improving the lives and health outcomes of people living and dealing with cancer.
“As we continue to innovate and lead the way in digital cancer care, it is key to collaborate with world-class partners who share our mission for transforming traditional cancer care with connected digital solutions.”
Jamie Kichenbrand, head of commercial partnerships at Macmillan Cancer Support, says: “At Macmillan, we estimate that the number of people living with cancer in the UK is set to rise to 4 million by 2030.
“We are delighted to be entering into a strategic partnership with Careology as it leads the way in pioneering innovative new ways of supporting people living with cancer and healthcare professionals.
“Digital cancer care can provide patients with easier access to greater support and personalised care, and could help to alleviate some of the significant challenges caused by ongoing workforce pressures across the NHS.”
For more on Macmillan visit macmillan.org.uk.
