At TMA, we're constantly working to improve our digital health passports based on feedback from families, clinicians, and NHS partners. Today, we're excited to share some of the major features and improvements coming throughout 2024.
What's Driving Our Roadmap
Our product development is guided by three key principles:
- User feedback - Features that families and clinicians tell us they need
- Clinical evidence - Improvements that research shows will improve outcomes
- NHS strategy - Alignment with national digital health priorities
This year's roadmap reflects all three, with a particular focus on making passports more accessible, more shareable, and more integrated with NHS systems.
Major Features Coming in 2024
Multimedia Passport Content (Q2 2024)
What it is: The ability to include video and audio content within passports.
Why it matters: Some information is better communicated through video or audio than text. A demonstration of how to administer emergency medication. A recording of what a child's seizure typically looks like. A video message from the child explaining their needs in their own words.
What to expect:
- Video upload capability (up to 60 seconds per clip)
- Audio recording feature for voice notes
- Video playback optimised for clinical settings
- Secure storage compliant with NHS data standards
Multi-Condition Passports (Q2 2024)
What it is: A single passport that combines information for children with multiple health conditions.
Why it matters: Many children have more than one condition - asthma and eczema, epilepsy and autism, diabetes and a mental health condition. Currently, these require separate passports. The new feature will allow families to maintain a single comprehensive passport.
What to expect:
- Merge existing condition-specific passports
- Unified emergency action plan covering all conditions
- Clear organisation by condition area
- Single share link for all information
Enhanced Sharing Controls (Q3 2024)
What it is: More granular control over what information is shared and with whom.
Why it matters: Different people need different information. A school needs day-to-day management guidance but not detailed medication histories. A childminder needs emergency contacts but not clinical correspondence. Families want control over what they share.
What to expect:
- Create custom "views" of the passport for different audiences
- Time-limited sharing links that expire automatically
- View tracking so families know who has accessed information
- Revoke access at any time
Symptom Tracking (Q3 2024)
What it is: Built-in tools to track symptoms, medication use, and triggers over time.
Why it matters: Tracking patterns helps families and clinicians understand a condition better. When do symptoms occur? What triggers flare-ups? Is the current treatment working? This data supports better care decisions.
What to expect:
- Simple daily logging interface
- Customisable tracking items by condition
- Visual trend reports
- Export capability for sharing with clinical teams
NHS App Integration (Q4 2024)
What it is: Integration with the NHS App, allowing passport access alongside other NHS services.
Why it matters: The NHS App is becoming the front door for NHS services. Integrating TMA passports means families can access their passport alongside appointments, prescriptions, and health records - all in one place.
What to expect:
- Single sign-on via NHS login
- Passport access within NHS App
- Notifications for passport updates
- Seamless experience across platforms
Family Account Features (Q4 2024)
What it is: Improved management for families with multiple children using passports.
Why it matters: Families with more than one child with health conditions need to switch between passports easily. Parents may both need access. Grandparents or other carers may need their own accounts.
What to expect:
- Family dashboard showing all children's passports
- Invite family members with customisable permissions
- Quick switching between children
- Activity log showing who has accessed or updated information
Improvements Based on User Feedback
Beyond major features, we're making numerous improvements based on direct user feedback:
Requested by Families
- Offline access: View passport content without internet connection
- Larger text option: Improved accessibility for those with visual impairments
- Translation support: Passports in Welsh initially, with other languages to follow
- Print improvements: Better formatting when printing passports for records
Requested by Clinicians
- Bulk patient upload: Easier onboarding for clinic populations
- Audit reporting: Track passport usage across patient cohorts
- Template customisation: Adapt passport templates to local pathways
- Integration APIs: Connect passports to clinical systems more easily
Requested by Schools
- Annual review reminders: Prompts to update school information each year
- Staff training module: Built-in learning resources for school staff
- Emergency contact verification: Confirm contact details are current
- Accessibility summaries: Quick-reference cards for classroom display
Privacy and Security Enhancements
As we add features, we're also strengthening our privacy and security measures:
- End-to-end encryption for all stored content
- Biometric authentication option (fingerprint/face ID)
- Enhanced audit logging showing all access events
- Automated data retention compliance features
- Penetration testing by independent security firm
How Features Get Prioritised
We receive hundreds of feature requests each year. Here's how we decide what to build:
- Impact assessment: How many users will benefit? How significant is the improvement?
- Feasibility evaluation: How complex is the development? What are the dependencies?
- Strategic alignment: Does it fit with NHS priorities and our mission?
- Resource planning: Do we have capacity to build and maintain it well?
Every feature that makes our roadmap has been carefully evaluated through this process.
Share Your Ideas
The best feature ideas come from people using passports every day. If you have suggestions for how we could improve, we'd love to hear from you.
How to Share Feedback
- In-app feedback: Use the "Give feedback" button in the app
- User surveys: Participate in our quarterly satisfaction surveys
- Focus groups: Join our user testing programme
- Direct contact: Email us at feedback@tinymedicalapps.com
All feedback is reviewed by our product team, and we respond to every message.
Beta Testing Programme
Want to try new features before they're released? Join our beta testing programme!
Benefits:
- Early access to new features
- Direct input into product development
- Recognition as a TMA Champion
- Exclusive updates on product roadmap
How to join: Register your interest and we'll be in touch when the next beta opens.
What's Next
Looking beyond 2024, we're exploring:
- AI-powered insights: Intelligent analysis of symptom patterns
- Wearable integration: Connect fitness trackers and medical devices
- Care team collaboration: Shared notes and tasks for clinical teams
- International expansion: Bringing passports to health systems globally
Stay tuned for updates as these initiatives develop.
Conclusion
2024 is shaping up to be our most ambitious year yet. From multimedia content to NHS App integration, from multi-condition support to enhanced privacy controls, we're building the features families and clinicians need.
As always, our goal is simple: to ensure every child with a long-term condition has the support they need, wherever they are. These new features are another step toward that vision.
Thank you for being part of the TMA community. We couldn't do this without you.
Questions about upcoming features? Get in touch and we'll be happy to help.
David Clarke
Product Director, TinyMedicalApps
David Clarke is dedicated to improving healthcare outcomes for children with long-term conditions.