Pioneering mobile ECG devices in NHS Mental Health Trusts

In 2017, NHS England commissioned the 15 Academic Health Science Networks (AHSNs) across England to undertake a system-wide procurement initiative to promote the uptake of digital technology. This novel approach to facilitate innovation adoption also aimed to reduce the incidence of stroke through increased detection of AF, alongside ongoing work to increase anticoagulation treatment rates in England. 6000 mobile ECG devices were distributed across the country by the AHSNs, allowing a greater range of healthcare and non-healthcare settings to offer opportunistic pulse rhythm checks to asymptomatic groups at increased risk of AF.

Health Innovation Network, as the AHSN for the 12 boroughs of south London, was responsible for the distribution of 400 mobile ECG devices. A proportion of these ECG devices were used in the three south London secondary mental health trusts (inpatient, outpatient clinics and on home visits), joining up mental and physical health. The ECG devices were used in these mental health settings for patient’s physical health checks, as well as with those requiring ECG monitoring due to medication which was previously difficult to monitor.

You can read more about how South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust have incorporated KARDIA mobile ECG devices here.

Read the full report here.

To find out more please contact Alex Lang, Darzi Fellow for Stroke Prevention alexlang@nhs.net or visit our Stroke Prevention page here for more information.