My Possible Self, the new mental health app, has been selected to take part in the largest push yet to speed up the adoption of digital health in the NHS.

The company has been identified as one of the highest potential and best-placed SMEs to help England’s health service meet the challenges of scarce resources and an ageing population.

The announcement comes days after the Health Secretary Matt Hancock vowed to “bring the NHS into the 21st century” and shared his aspirations for the NHS to become the best in the world at using technology in healthcare.

The digital health market in England is expected to reach almost £43 billion by 2018 and £408 billion by 2025.

Highly competitive process

Following a highly competitive process, My Possible Self has joined the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme and will receive:

• One to one support from a designated NHS navigator with strong clinical and provider experience
• Specialist training
• Support with product development
• Opportunities to meet experts from business, clinical and government backgrounds
• Regular opportunities to showcase its app with NHS decision-makers and influencers.

Helping GPs provide immediate mental health support

Hana Wilkinson, director of My Possible Self, said: “We are delighted to be taking part in the DigitalHealth.London Accelerator and look forward to engaging with NHS commissioners and health and care providers in the capital.

“Every year, two million Londoners suffer from mental ill health. Many have to wait months before being able to access psychological therapies. We believe that My Possible Self can help NHS commissioners to reduce demand on face-to-face services and help GPs to provide immediate support to patients.

“Most importantly, patients can access My Possible Self to reduce stress, feelings of anxiety and low mood in just eight weeks.”

NHS Apps Library

My Possible Self joined the NHS Apps Library in the summer after successfully demonstrating that it meets NHS technical, clinical and safety standards.

The app is designed to help users aged 18 and above learn how to improve thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

Increasing England’s competitiveness in digital innovation

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme is run by the innovation arm of the NHS, Academic Health Science Networks, and partners, and is one of five launched in London, Manchester, the South West, East Midlands, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Mike Hannay, Chair of England’s Academic Health Science Networks, said: “Despite the array of talent and resources available, there is room for much better collaboration between SMEs and the health system to increase England’s competitiveness in digital innovation.

“Connections between entrepreneurial innovation and health are essential for England to realise its potential and become a world leader in digital health innovation.”

To find out more about how My Possible Self could help your organisation, get in touch. We can help healthcare providers and employers improve the wellbeing of their employees or patient groups.

The DigitalHealth.London Accelerator programme is receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects, which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. 

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.