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.

Putting patients in control when choosing health app options.

Pharmacy2U, the UK’s largest online pharmacy, has partnered with ORCHA, the leading digital health app assessment platform, to launch the Pharmacy2U App Hub. 5 million people search for health apps every single day, with the UK ranking at the 5th highest user of health apps. This exciting new collaboration is set to transform healthcare access across the nation by providing customers with safe, effective, and clinically assured digital health solutions.

The Pharmacy2U App Hub, powered by ORCHA, brings together a curated selection of trusted health apps that have undergone rigorous assessment to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety, security, and usability. The hub offers Pharmacy2U customers a reliable, easily accessible resource to improve their health and wellbeing, while also empowering them to make informed decisions about their healthcare.

‘This initiative is helping individuals across the UK avoid unsafe, unreliable health apps and instead access clinically assured, data-protected, and user-friendly technologies from Pharmacy2U.

Liz CEO ORCHA

“The Pharmacy2U app enables customers to take control of their healthcare and access all our services in one place at anytime from anywhere. We are always looking for ways to improve our offering for our patients and we recognise the benefit of using health related apps to support specific health goals within our care pathways. The Pharmacy2U Digital Health App Hub empowers people to feel safe in the knowledge these apps have met the high standards of the ORCHA assessment.”

Gary Dannatt chief of staff at P2U

For App Suppliers: A Unique Opportunity to Reach Millions

This groundbreaking customer centric app hub is set to grow as new health apps are assessed by ORCHA to ensure they meet key criteria such as clinical effectiveness, data privacy and ease of use. It gives new health app developers and suppliers an unparalleled opportunity to show case their apps to a Pharmacy2U’s growing audience of currently 1.5 million people. The Pharmacy2U App Hub will allow people across the UK feel confident and put them in control of accessing trusted digital health solutions that compliment their health.

For Pharmacy2U Patients: Access to Safe, Clinically Assured Health Technologies

Pharmacy2U is dedicated to ensuring that patients have access to the best digital healthcare solutions. With the launch of the Pharmacy2U App Hub, customers can now explore a wide range of digital health apps that have been assessed for safety, effectiveness, and user privacy. This initiative is a crucial step in helping individuals across the UK avoid unsafe, unreliable health apps and instead access clinically assured, data-protected, and user-friendly technologies.

Every app included in the Pharmacy2U App Hub has passed the ORCHA Assessment, which guarantees that the apps are:

• Clinically Assured: Proven effectiveness and safety
• Data and Privacy Compliant: Strict adherence to data protection standards
• Usable and Accessible: Designed for ease of use and inclusivity for all

With this new partnership, Pharmacy2U patients can take control of their health, knowing that the digital tools they are using are both safe and effective.

About Pharmacy2U

Pharmacy2U is the UK’s largest online pharmacy, delivering a wide range of pharmacy services, putting people in control of their healthcare. Pharmacy2U is committed to providing high-quality, accessible healthcare solutions that improve patient experiences and health outcomes.

For more information about the Pharmacy2U App Hub, visit https://pharmacy2u.orchahealth.com/en-GB

This partnership marks a significant milestone in digital health and prevention, enhancing accessibility to safe, effective technologies and helping people make informed decisions about their healthcare. Together, ORCHA and Pharmacy2U are shaping the future of healthcare, one app at a time.

Problem and Vision

Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) has taken significant steps toward addressing the growing pressures on urgent and emergency care services. With 33% of the population living in the most deprived 20% of neighbourhoods in England, the region faces substantial health challenges, including higher rates of avoidable hospital admissions. In 2023/2024, 15.6% of patients experienced waits longer than 12 hours in Accident & Emergency departments, largely due to insufficient bed capacity.

Recognising the need for broader interventions, the region has embraced digital health solutions and has partnered with ORCHA to enhance care, build confidence among healthcare professionals and patients, and empower individuals to manage their health more proactively.

Objective

The initiative aimed to support the recovery and efficiency of urgent and emergency care services across Cheshire and Merseyside through the deployment of digital health tools. Key areas of focus included:

1. Embedding digital health apps into clinical workflows – Ensuring healthcare professionals confidently recommend digital tools that complement traditional care pathways.
2. Enhancing patient self-management – Providing individuals with accessible, effective digital solutions to manage their conditions outside of hospital settings.
3. Developing user-friendly public-facing landing pages – Creating an intuitive platform for individuals to engage with and download high-quality health applications.
4. Addressing key health challenges – Prioritising digital health interventions for respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease (CVD), mental health, and frailty.
5. Implementing solutions across multiple locations – Successfully rolling out the initiative in Liverpool, Warrington, and Wirral to maximise impact.

Results

The initiative has led to measurable progress in adopting and integrating digital health solutions across the region:

• Widespread Engagement with Digital Health Apps: Since October 2024, over 8,000 individuals have accessed recommended digital health resources, with  1 in 8 patients downloading a validated health apps recorded.
• Enhanced Patient Outcomes: The availability of digital health apps has supported individuals in managing conditions such as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, and mental health challenges. The Digital Healthy Passport, a widely used asthma management tool, has been the most downloaded app this year.
• Seamless Integration into Clinical Workflows: Healthcare professionals have been trained to incorporate digital health apps into their practice, enriching patient-provider interactions and improving service delivery.
• Broadened Public Access to Digital Health Resources: Dedicated app landing pages have provided a centralised hub for individuals to explore and download high-quality digital health solutions tailored to key health priorities.

Alleviated Pressure on Urgent and Emergency Services: Early indicators suggest a reduction in avoidable emergency visits, as patients gain the tools and knowledge needed to manage their health more effectively within their communities.

Conclusion

This initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to healthcare, demonstrating the transformative potential of digital health solutions in easing the burden on urgent and emergency care services. By integrating digital health tools into clinical practice, enhancing patient self-management, and ensuring accessibility, the region is paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient healthcare system.

The success of this approach highlights its scalability, offering a model for other regions seeking to improve healthcare outcomes through digital innovation. Ongoing engagement with healthcare professionals, continued refinement of digital resources, and sustained patient education will be essential to maximising long-term benefits.

Looking Ahead

The progress in Cheshire and Merseyside underscores the immense potential of digital health to transform healthcare delivery. If you’re part of the NHS and looking to implement a similar initiative in your region, expertise and resources are available to support tailored digital health strategies that improve care pathways, enhance patient engagement, and optimise service efficiency.

For more information on how digital health can support your healthcare priorities, get in touch with our team today hello@orchahealth.com

In Dorset, neurodiverse individuals face unique challenges when it comes to accessing health and wellbeing resources. These challenges can include communication barriers, sensory sensitivities, and difficulties navigating traditional healthcare services. Recognising the need for more inclusive and accessible solutions, Dorset’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) took the initiative to explore how digital health apps could provide targeted support.

Estimating the exact number of neurodivergent individuals in Dorset is challenging due to the broad spectrum of conditions encompassed by neurodiversity and the variability in diagnosis and reporting. National estimates suggest that approximately 10% of the population is neurodivergent, encompassing conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. publichealthdorset.org.uk

Applying this national estimate to Dorset’s population of approximately 800,000 residents, it can be inferred that around 80,000 individuals may be neurodivergent. However, some sources suggest that the prevalence could be higher, with estimates up to 14% of the population.

Given these figures, it is crucial to ensure a comprehensive and diverse range of support services tailored to meet the needs of this community.

With this in mind the primary goal was clear: to harness technology to create practical tools that improve the daily lives of neurodiverse individuals. By providing easy-to-use, inclusive digital resources, the initiative sought to enhance independence and empower individuals to take charge of their health and wellbeing with confidence. The approach prioritised usability and long-term engagement, fostering greater autonomy and inclusion.

Dorset’s strategy focused on delivering solutions that address the most pressing challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals, such as managing anxiety, improving sleep, building routines, and enhancing social skills. The key objectives were:

• Providing Accessible Tools: Offering a selection of evidence-based, user-friendly digital apps tailored to neurodiverse needs
• Improving Outcomes: Supporting better mental health, emotional wellbeing, and daily functioning.
• Raising Awareness: Educating families, carers, and healthcare providers about the value of digital tools in supporting neurodiverse communities.
• Ensuring Quality: Continuously evaluating app effectiveness and relevance through user feedback and data to meet evolving needs.

Over the past year, Dorset has seen significant progress in supporting neurodiverse communities with digital health tools. More than 500 neurodiversity-related apps have been downloaded, showcasing the growing trust in these solutions. Popular choices such as Inflow ADHD, Brain in Hand, and Focus@Will are amongst those that have been utilised. Some of the benefits associated with these apps include;

1. Boosting Independence: Many users have gained confidence in managing their daily lives with less reliance on external support.
2. Enhancing Emotional Wellbeing: Apps designed to reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation have had a noticeable impact on mental health.
3. Improving Productivity and Focus: Tools like Focus@Will have helped users excel in educational and professional settings.
4. Establishing Routines: Apps such as Brain in Hand have enabled individuals to build and maintain effective daily habits, reducing overwhelm.
5. Fostering Inclusion: By addressing core challenges, these tools have allowed users to engage more fully in community, education, and work environments.

Dorset’s initiative demonstrates the transformative power of digital health apps in supporting neurodiverse individuals. By providing tailored, accessible tools, this program has improved mental health, independence, and quality of life for many. With continued adoption and expansion, digital health technologies have the potential to create a more inclusive and empowered community across Dorset, setting an example for how other regions can follow suit.

The success in Dorset shows the incredible potential of digital health apps to transform lives. If you’re part of the NHS and want to explore running a similar project in your region—or address another priority area using digital health tools—we’re here to help contact us at hello@orchahealth.com.