A staff-focused healthcare app supporting wellbeing and communication in the NHS

This bespoke app enables NHS Trusts to engage and communicate better with staff, from sharing important messages to supporting their own health and wellbeing.

Project launch: August 2022

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Services

Mobile App Development

UX & digital product design

Technologies

About the Client

The NHS Black Country Healthcare Trust were struggling with staff engagement and communication, and wanted an app that could provide key information, and signpost to important services.

The app had to be available for staff on both iOS and Android, and provide an incredibly smooth user experience, directing staff to information they needed. They also wanted a feature where staff could log their current mood, helping to track possible overload and burnout.

Easy to use, intuitive app
Available on iOS and Android
Ability to send push notifications
Scalability

The Challenge

The initial challenge with this project was setting out the specification for the MVP (minimum viable product). Starting with an MVP meant that we could focus on the key functionality that the Trust needed, with the ability to build and expand the app as people started to use it.

Working in collaboration, we ensured that the Trust were getting the functionality they needed from the MVP, as well as looking towards future development.

Secure, flexible login

Typically, logins for this sort of system are tied to a user’s email address, but for this project, staff wouldn’t necessarily have a suitable email that they could use.

Instead, we developed a login system that uses the Trust’s database of staff, and enables them to login using their personal details, cross-referencing them with the Trust’s own records.

Communication made simple

The key feature of this app was to provide easy to access information that would be useful to staff.

This included articles and information to support wellbeing, new updates such as latest vacancies, and services like available discounts for staff.

With the app providing a single repository, employees can easily get to services and information whenever they need it.

Alerts and notifications

The app also provides a “Send an Alert” feature, which sends a push notification to app users. This simple message feature is useful for significant updates, such as outbreaks of a particular illness, or emergency updates.

Forum

The creation of a forum within the app allows users to ask questions and share responses on key subjects.

Not only is this great for staff engagement and communication, it’s also helpful for administrators to see the questions and queries that staff are posting. With better awareness of the subjects and questions staff are interested in, they can provide more relevant, useful content to them through the app.

Wellness check

The wellness check feature was a useful addition to the app, enabling users to select whether they were feeling happy, OK or Sad each day.

Monitoring these responses is a really useful way for the Trust to monitor the overall wellbeing of their employees. With burnout such a big issue in healthcare, this feature is an important tool in ensuring staff are feeling positive.

Dashboard
New Article
Forum
Wellbeing Check
Creating a forum post
iOS and Android App
News
Example of forum

The Outcomes

Since the launch of the app, the Trust have seen really good engagement, with nearly 4,000 staff members having downloaded the app.

The Trust now have a secure, easy to use method of keeping up to date with their employees, providing useful news, important updates, and checking in on staff’s overall health and wellbeing, for a more connected, communicative workplace.