New child health app proves a winner

A MOBILE phone app which helps parents and carers when children fall ill has won a regional award.

The free app CATCH, which stands for Common Approach to Children’s Health, helps people spot symptoms in children aged 0 -5 and to seek medical advice when necessary.

It won the Innovation Award at the 2017 Excellence in Supply Awards held in Blackpool by the NHS in the North West.

NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) with Cheshire East Council and NHS South Cheshire CCG commissioned the app which gives advice on healthcare services, notifications about dates, such as childhood immunisations and a map of GP surgeries, dentists and pharmacies.

The app came about after a study found that A&E attendance among 0-4 year olds in Cheshire East was much higher than the national average.

Dr Lesley Bayliss, NHS Eastern Cheshire CCG’s clinical champion for children, said: “These findings show that the app is not only helping parents take great care of their children but is also reducing avoidable hospital activity, which is good news for people needing urgent and emergency care.”