North East and North Cumbria NHS has begun a year-long rollout of the Healthinote digital health platform to support patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition affecting one in ten UK adults.
The initiative targets early detection and prevention, particularly in deprived areas where CKD rates are above the national average.
The SPOT CKD programme (Screening, Prevention, Outreach and Treatment for Health Equity) is a collaboration between the ICB, Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria, and Boehringer Ingelheim. It aims to improve outcomes in high-risk communities through education and proactive care.
Central to the programme is Kidney Essentials, a multilingual digital resource co-created with patients and clinicians. Delivered via Healthinote, it helps users understand their condition and make informed decisions with their healthcare teams.
Dr Sarah McCloskey, Consultant Nephrologist and CKD Lead, said: “The rollout of the Kidney Essentials programme on the Healthinote platform marks a major step forward in addressing health inequalities across the North East of England and North Cumbria.”
She added: “With chronic kidney disease on the rise, Cognitant’s resources offer patients the tools to better understand and manage their condition. It’s set to transform consultations, reduce unnecessary appointments, and free up valuable time for clinicians.”
The platform is NHS-approved and already supports patients with various long-term conditions across the UK. It aligns with NHS England’s goals to shift care into communities, promote prevention and use digital services to ease pressure on frontline care.
Vani Manja of Boehringer Ingelheim said: “The SPOT CKD programme aims to support health equity and enable better access to healthcare for those who do not or cannot access the care they need.”
Dr Tim Ringrose, CEO of Cognitant Group, said: “This is a perfect example of how digital health services can be successfully integrated into the NHS.”
