A physiotherapist has triumphed at a national NHS awards ceremony after he created a free training app aimed at teaching physiotherapy staff redeployed during COVID-19.
Dr Iain Loughran, a musculoskeletal physiotherapist at our Trust , created ONCALLbuddy alongside Stephanie Mansell, a consultant respiratory physiotherapist at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The pair created the app in response to the pandemic which saw a large proportion of physiotherapists shift into respiratory and critical care roles to support medical staff.
Both Iain and Stephanie received a joint AHP (allied health professional) digital practice award for their ground-breaking app at this year’s NHS England Chief Allied Health Professionals Officer (CAHPO) Awards.
Iain said: “Steph and I were both thrilled and still a bit shocked to receive this year’s CAHPO award for digital practice for ONCALLbuddy.
“We’re both really grateful for the support of our Trusts and we want to thank everyone who has downloaded the app and provided feedback to make it useful in those stressful on call situations.”
Upon realising that COVID-19 redeployments may seem daunting for many physiotherapists, the award-winning physios took it upon themselves to create a free and easy to use educational resource that would meet the demands of their new workplace.
The resulting app, ONCALLbuddy, allows staff to carry a quick reference guide in their pockets, providing real time support on the frontline to supplement their initial training.
Professor Graham Evans, the Trust’s chief information and technology officer, said: “This app is a great example of necessity becoming the mother of invention.
“It really demonstrates how a digital solution can transform a critical service.”