Over the past few weeks, I’ve read the headlines and, like many of you, felt a real sense of unease:

• An NHS AI project paused after concerns about using GP data.
• Warnings that AI translation apps could be putting patient safety at risk.
• AI project to predict health outcomes paused over GP data concern

These stories aren’t just news items—they’re reminders that while AI holds huge promise for healthcare, we’re still working out how to use it safely and responsibly. And they’re exactly why we at ORCHA, in partnership with Hartree, have been working so hard to build something practical: a way to properly assess AI tools used in health and care.

What’s Really Going On

AI is already starting to shape the future of healthcare—from helping spot diseases earlier to making services more efficient. But with all this potential comes very real risk. If we’re not careful, we can roll out tools that aren’t properly tested, that misuse data, or that simply don’t work for everyone—especially those most in need.

Take the recent case of the Foresight model. It was trained on data from 57 million people. But the fact that GPs weren’t fully aware of how that data was being used caused the whole project to be paused. Trust was lost.

Then there’s the warning about AI translation apps. I completely understand why services might turn to them—they’re fast, easy, and cheap. But when we’re dealing with someone’s health, “good enough” just isn’t good enough. Miscommunication can have serious consequences.

What We’re Doing About It

This is exactly why we created the AI Assurance Designathon—a space where we brought people together from all sides: clinicians, developers, regulators, ethicists. It wasn’t about shiny tech or high-level policy talk. It was about asking the hard, practical questions:

• How do we make sure AI in healthcare is tested properly?
• How can we check that the data it uses is handled responsibly?
• What does “safe” really look like when it comes to AI?

And then we built a solution. A new AI Assurance Module—something structured, practical, and ready to use. A way to evaluate digital health tools that include AI, without making it so complicated that it becomes a blocker.

Why This Matters to Me

I’ve spent years working in and around health and care. I’ve seen how digital can change lives—but I’ve also seen the damage that can be done when tech is rushed, misunderstood, or not properly tested.

At ORCHA, our job has always been to help people find and use digital health tools they can trust. As more and more of those tools start to use AI, we have to raise the bar. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because if we don’t, people will stop trusting digital health altogether.

We can’t let that happen.

This work we’re doing with Hartree isn’t just about building a framework – it’s about building trust. And we’re going to keep working at it until the systems around AI in healthcare are as strong, fair, and safe as they need to be.

Let’s Chat

If you’re working with AI in health and care and want to know what’s safe, what’s effective, and how to manage the risk, let’s grab a coffee and chat.

I’ll be at Confed in Manchester next week – drop me a message, and let’s connect.

Because getting this right is something we all have a stake in.

– Liz Ashall-Payne

Founder, ORCHA

Over the past decade, digital health suppliers have set their sights on the potentially lucrative B2B2C (business-to-business-to-consumer) go-to-market strategy. The goal: secure reimbursement via healthcare systems and gain credibility through deployment in existing health infrastructure.

However, economic challenges, complex procurement and bureaucratic hurdles mean that widespread reimbursement hasn’t materialised as expected. These barriers have, in an increasing number of cases, led to innovations dropping the NHS-and, by extension, the UK market as a whole.

This is devastating, that the UK, spending over a quarter of a trillion pounds a year on health care, is being viewed by some as lacking the opportunity for health tech innovation to thrive!

At the same time, an undeniable shift has taken place—over 5 million consumers now download and purchase digital health apps every day. The demand is clear, and it’s coming directly from consumers who are actively searching for solutions to improve their health or overall well-being.

This presents an important question for digital health companies: Is the real opportunity in B2C (business-to-consumer) instead?

I spend a lot of my time speaking with innovators from across the digital health space, and having spoken with hundreds of digital health founders and innovators, most of whom had unique products, one thing that they all have in common? The desire for IMPACT. Everyone I speak to has an amazing story to tell about their product and the story behind it, as well as its potential to deliver positive impact to peoples health, they’re also all facing the same challenge.

The Challenge: Getting the Right Products to the Right People

While the consumer market is booming, visibility and distribution remain major challenges. With thousands of digital health products available, how can people find the safest and most effective ones? How can companies ensure their products reach those who need them most?

That’s where ORCHA comes in. For the past decade, we have worked alongside healthcare systems, charities, and industry partners to create distribution channels to ensure quality digital health solutions reach consumers. Underpinned by assurance, we give organisations and consumers the confidence that they are accessing the best and safest products.

Building Momentum with Key Distribution Partners

We’re seeing incredible results through our partnerships with Mind UK, Pharmacy2U and of course the NHS. By integrating assured digital health products into these trusted platforms, we’re making it easier than ever for people to find safe and effective solutions.

Take Mind UK as an example. Every day, tens of thousands of people visit the Mind website to access support with their mental health, and they can now discover and download Mind-assured digital health products, showcasing the power of trusted distribution channels in connecting consumers to the support that they need, whilst also highlighting the willingness of consumers to engage in proactive self-management.

The Future: A Call to Action

If you’re;

1. a) a digital health supplier looking to get your product into the hands of those who need it most, or
2. b) an organisation looking to distribute quality-assured products,

Why don’t we have a chat? Drop me an email at Jordan.Hawkings@ORCHAHealth.com

Written by Jordan Hawkings, Business Development Manager, ORCHA

DDM Health is a leading provider of NICE-recommended, NHS DTAC-approved digital health solutions. Its flagship platform, Gro Health, supports people to manage their physical and mental health through evidence-based behaviour change tools, co-produced clinical pathways and structured coaching. With a strong focus on health inequalities and underserved populations, Gro Health has been deployed across NHS pathways to support long-term condition management, mental wellbeing and healthy weight services.

Across the UK, growing numbers of people are facing long-term mental health challenges without timely access to effective support. Many of these individuals also live with comorbidities such as obesity, type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular risk factors. DDM recognised the urgent need to deliver integrated digital support to these communities and sought a credible, clinically-assured route to improve discoverability and adoption of their platform.

DDM Health partnered with Mind to list Gro Health on the Mind Digital Tool Library, a curated and trusted space helping users, carers and professionals find safe, evidence-based digital mental health tools.

The onboarding process involved clear guidance and supportive dialogue around information governance, clinical validation, and user accessibility. This enabled DDM Health to showcase Gro Health in a way that highlights its regulatory compliance, peer-reviewed evidence base and inclusive approach to health behaviour change.

Gro Health is now featured on the Mind Digital Tool Library and accessible to thousands of individuals seeking effective self-guided mental health support. The platform delivers:

• 23%, 31% and 32% reductions in stress, anxiety and depression symptoms respectively
• 36% improvement in mental wellbeing (SWEMWBS)
• 8% improvement in quality of life

In a separate eating disorder-focused pathway, outcomes included a 44% improvement in ED-15 scores, 42% increase in self-esteem, and a 49% reduction in binge episodes.

Gro Health has been shown to be effective across a wide range of clinical needs – from emotional eating and depression to sleep, anxiety and self-worth – and was recognised with the HSJ Award 2024 for Empowering Patients with Digital.

The partnership with Mind helps extend DDM Health’s impact to a broader audience of users and referrers seeking trusted digital tools. By improving visibility through the Mind Library, Gro Health is now better positioned to support underserved individuals – including those in socioeconomically deprived communities, ethnic minority groups, and people facing barriers to face-to-face services.

The collaboration reinforces both organisations’ shared commitment to reducing health inequalities through early intervention, prevention, and digital inclusion.

“Being listed on the Mind Library is a meaningful step in amplifying our reach and making mental health support more accessible. Mind is a trusted voice and our partnership helps ensure that our evidence-based digital platform can support those who might otherwise fall through the gaps.”
Arjun Panesar, CEO & Head of AI and Ethics at DDM Health and Honorary Associate Professor at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick

With a focus on delivering personalised, scalable interventions, DDM Health plans to continue working with partners like Mind to strengthen its presence in digital mental health. The team is also expanding into targeted interventions for eating disorders, neurodivergent populations, and underserved women’s health communities – all with a commitment to evidence, inclusion and measurable outcomes.

24th April 2024:  As healthcare systems around the world contend with rising costs, growing patient demand, and workforce shortages, the need for safe, high-quality digital health solutions has never been greater. These pressures create a significant opportunity for ORCHA, the global leader in digital health distribution and assurance, which has secured additional funding from its longstanding investors, Bill Currie and Sir Terry Leahy. This investment will fuel ORCHA’s continued international expansion, enabling more healthcare providers to integrate trusted digital tools that enhance patient outcomes and system performance.

Backed by committed and financially strong investors, ORCHA is well-positioned to accelerate its mission of transforming healthcare through safe, effective, and innovative digital health solutions. This new investment empowers ORCHA to further support health systems worldwide in selecting, accrediting, and deploying high-quality digital health technologies at scale.

In this exciting new chapter, ORCHA is also pleased to announce the appointment of Glenn Jackson as CEO. With more than 40 years of experience in scaling impactful businesses, Glenn’s leadership will be key in driving ORCHA’s global strategy forward.

Founding CEO Liz Ashall-Payne will continue to play an essential executive role, working closely with Glenn and the wider leadership team to strengthen and expand ORCHA’s mission.

“This investment comes at a pivotal moment for global healthcare,” said Liz Ashall-Payne. “As pressures on health services continue to grow, digital health offers a crucial opportunity to improve care delivery. With Glenn’s expertise and our team’s unwavering commitment to quality, we’re ready to help even more health systems harness the power of digital health.”

With robust investor support, experienced leadership, and a relentless focus on quality and safety, ORCHA is poised to deepen its impact—ensuring healthcare providers worldwide can confidently embrace digital health to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.