Ampersand Health: against COVID-19 ^Company

Entity: Ampersand Health

Category: HealthTech

Description: Ampersand Health is a multi-award winning social enterprise, developing the first scientifically validated digital therapeutic for inflammatory conditions. They are committed to value-based collaborations with clinicians, patients and the industry to achieve better health outcomes. Their team comprises leading clinicians from globally recognised hospitals in the UK and patient groups are the heart of what they do. Collaborative research, in-depth analysis and evidence-based decisions drive all their work. They believe they are a part of a thriving ecosystem addressing the biggest challenges to public health.

Project: TechForce19 challenge

Summary: People who may be particularly vulnerable or isolated during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including new parents, the homeless, unpaid carers, young people and cancer patients, could soon benefit from a range of innovative digital solutions selected as part of the TechForce19 challenge. NHSX, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have announced 18 innovative digital solutions being awarded up to £25,000 under the TechForce19 challenge. The funding for each project will be used to develop new ways to support vulnerable people who need to stay at home or need other help in the community for extended periods of time. Ampersand Health’s self-management apps help people with long term, immune mediated diseases (such as Crohn’s and Colitis) live happier and healthier lives. Using behavioural and data science, the apps deliver courses and programmes designed to improve sleep quality, stress management and medication adherence; with modules for activity, diet and relationships in the works. During the COVID-19 crisis, this will help those people better manage their conditions and reduce the need for clinical support. Ampersand are also offering their clinical management portal free of charge to NHS Trusts until January 2021, no strings attached. This will allow clinical teams to help manage their patients, remotely.

+ Investors:

Techforce19.uk, NHSX. Ampersand Health received investment from Techforce19.uk\NHSX, after a call on all innovators who can support the elderly, vulnerable and self-isolating during COVID-19 to apply for government funding of up to £25,000 to test their solution.

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)

Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)