A healthy app workshop was held for people from across the NHS to discuss and promote innovation and collaboration in digital healthcare.

The workshop was innovative in its approach as it emphasised knowledge sharing and learning between businesses, the NHS and other key stakeholders including the local Government and representatives from universities.

The event, hosted by the North West Coast Academic Health Science Network, examined the impact that healthcare apps can have in the NHS, what is already in the marketplace and how the established network can support the development and implementation of future health care apps.

Held at IC1 Liverpool Science Park, the event explored the issues NHS staff would like to resolve in the use of apps and it also gave attendees the opportunity to network and meet other people from the healthcare community with an interest in the digitalisation of healthcare.

Dr Liz Mear, CEO of the NWCAHSN, said:

“Apps are now a part of everyday life and the event was a great way to examine how they are now incorporated into health care. The NHS already has a number of apps available and we were able to begin a discussion into what works and what needs to be resolved in the use of apps.”

Both users and makers of healthy apps gathered at the event in order to tap into the established network and see the ways in which they could work together to capitalise on the benefits of apps.

The event was the first of two to be held across the North West with the second set to take place in Lancashire and Cumbria.