A charity funded App introduced at Derriford two years ago has proved to be a big hit with patients accessing health services in Plymouth.

The Hospital Passport (HP) app was created to support people with a learning disability; it helps them tell hospital staff what their needs are, what they do and don’t like and also gives details which may affect their care. Until the app’s introduction in 2022, all this information was in the form of a paper document which patients needed to carry around but now it’s all just a couple of clicks away on their phone or tablet. 

The Derriford User Group  (DUG) which is a local group of people with learning disabilities helped design it and funding from Plymouth Hospitals Charity built the app and supported the five year programme to roll out of the new service and its continuing development. Since then, more than 500 patients have started using the app and have given it the thumbs up compared to the old system.

Saoirse Read, Learning Disability and Autism Service manager and project lead said: “ The app replaces the old paper version of the Hospital Passport which patients could lose or forget to bring with them to appointments. The app improves patients’ hospital experience because they feel less anxious as they know the information's bang up to date there on their phone and the hospital staff can access it instantly. Carers and relatives like it too as it means that they’re not always having to repeat themselves when speaking with staff. It’s making communication simpler and more efficient. It’s proven popular with our younger patients who are into technology although we have patients of all ages taking part. 

“For the staff the app gives really vital information how to make reasonable adjustments so that person can access diagnosis or investigations more quickly, which is to the staff's benefit when they've got lots of patients to see and we’ve found it gives staff confidence to know that they're doing the right thing when one of the patients is unwell, that they might not have had without the hospital passport. It’s also been really useful for our liaison teams who go and see patients at home.” 

Corinne Smith, Plymouth Hospitals Charity Manager says: “The charity always aspires to funding equipment that makes a positive difference to peoples' lives and the longevity of this project and the amount of people using it, is inspiring. It is really building peoples' confidence that their needs are being heard which then reduces anxiety and worry about not being able to tell people what they like or don’t like. 
Plymouth Hospitals Charity would like to be able to fund more items like this and stay abreast of new technologies. Please donate if you would like to support projects similar to this.” 

It’s hoped that hundreds more patients will sign up to the free app over the next few years. 
If you want to download the app, you can search for “Hospital Passport” on your phone’s app store or follow one of these links:
 App Store
Google Play