Digital health specialist Orcha is winner of March Merseyside Innovation Award
Daresbury-based business is referred to as ‘the Martin Lewis of health apps’ and has become the trusted source for health app advice
Digital firm Orcha has been named as the March monthly winner of the 2019 Merseyside Innovation Awards (MIA).
The Daresbury-based business is referred to as ‘the Martin Lewis of health apps’ and has become the trusted source for health app advice and, in 2018 was enlisted by NHS Digital to conduct app evaluations for the central NHS Library.
The MIAs aim to help companies transform their ideas into successful businesses, contributing towards Merseyside’s economic development. Since 1996, the awards have celebrated and encouraged innovative companies and individuals in Merseyside.
Orcha is currently engaged with organisations across Merseyside, including Alder Hey Hospital and PSS, and the aim is to roll it out globally and help drive adoption of digital health apps to empower patients and professionals.
Navigating health and care apps is difficult for consumers, health professionals and national health bodies with 4m health apps downloaded every day and 325,000 to choose from.
Orcha independently reviews and ranks existing health and care apps using a seven stage clinically and academically assessed framework, enabling the end user to easily identify apps reaching the highest standards.
Co-founder and chief executive, Liz Ashall-Payne, said: “Being crowned a monthly winner is a wonderful achievement for everyone at Orcha. We are delighted to be acknowledged for our work in reviewing and ranking existing health apps, providing patients and professionals digital tools they know they can trust.”
Brian McCann, MIA chairman, added: “Orcha’s achievements demonstrate the impact Merseyside entrepreneurs can have locally and potentially globally.”
MIA is driven by a group of locally-based sponsor organisations including, dewinter, Mitchell Charlesworth, Unilever, Liverpool City Region LEP, Natwest, Insider Media, Village Software, WP Thompson, O’Connors, RTC North and BBC Radio Merseyside.