A smartphone application for women with gestational diabetes, developed at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) and the University of Oxford, has won a national award.
GDm-Health won the MedTech, Device or Hardware Innovation Award at the HSJ Partnership Awards on Thursday (27th February).
The app was developed initially as a ‘proof-of-concept’ collaboration between OUH’s Women’s Centre and the University of Oxford’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, with support from the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).
Gestational diabetes mellitus affects thousands of mothers-to-be in the UK each year and can lead to serious complications, including high rates of stillbirth and congenital anomalies.
The aim of the app was to create a method that was reliable and accurate but was also convenient for women to use, as well as being cost-saving for healthcare providers.
GDm-Health has allowed clinicians to focus on women in greatest need of clinical attention, reducing the number of face-to-face appointments required, and leading to better outcomes for the pregnancies.
After successful trials and with support from the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) the technology was commercialised by Sensyne Health as part of an agreement with OUH and the University to develop digital health technologies.
OUH Consultant Obstetrician Dr Lucy Mackillop, clinical lead for the development of GDm-Health, said: “Through GDm-Health, we have been able to make a real, tangible difference to the lives of women during pregnancy.
“We are very pleased with the rapid uptake of GDm-Health by NHS Trusts, and thrilled by the recognition of this HSJ award. With GDM becoming more prevalent, it is vital that the latest technological insights available be utilised to help women and their clinicians better manage this condition.”
Lord Drayson, CEO of Sensyne Health,said: “GDm-Health is a great example of a healthcare innovation that has been invented in the NHS and that has enormous potential to improve health, both in the UK and internationally.”