Healthy London Partnership Teams up with Tiny Medical Apps to Help Tackle the Capital's Asthma Problem

An innovative collaboration between medical technology startup Tiny Medical Apps and Healthy London Partnership launched to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for asthma in London. The Digital Health Passport began user testing in early October, coinciding with the #AskAboutAsthma campaign.

The Problem

According to Dr. Greg Burch, co-founder of Tiny Medical Apps and an A&E physician, "Asthma is still killing young people in the UK" with outcomes among Europe's worst. He noted that the 2014 National Review of Asthma Deaths found "two thirds of asthma deaths were preventable."

The figures are striking: over 4,000 children and young people in London require emergency hospital admission annually for asthma attacks. Of these, 170 cases are severe enough to require intensive care unit intubation and ventilation.

The Solution

The Digital Health Passport app enables clinicians to place an Asthma Action Plan directly on patients' phones. Users can track symptoms, peak flow readings, and hospital visits to monitor disease progression and identify when to seek medical help.

Evidence demonstrates that patients with personalized asthma action plans are significantly less likely to require emergency department visits.

Background

Tiny Medical Apps was established in 2016 by Burch and technical architect Matt Bourne, who brings 20 years of NHS digital solution experience. The organization received £50,000 from Nominet Trust to test asthma-related applications with London teenagers.