Today, leading cancer charity Macmillan Cancer Support announces HUMA as the winner of a £75,000 investment to further develop its systemic anti-cancer therapy Digital Checklist app, aimed to help improve the experience of cancer patients across the UK.
HUMA’s SACT (systemic anti-cancer therapy [1]) digital checklist allows patients to share health information via a mobile app which in turn allows clinicians to monitor their health remotely.
The app enables patients to answer a digital pre-screening checklist and share information such as vital signs and symptoms with clinicians from the comfort of their home. Clinicians can then review patient checklist answers and health data remotely to understand if they are ready to receive SACT and what they may need for their recovery. Currently, when cancer patients are pre-screened to check their health before receiving SACT, this is usually done over the telephone or in a physical appointment. This can be inconvenient for some patients and can add to the workload for clinicians.
The innovation from HUMA is designed to increase clinical capacity for the delivery of treatment, improve the patient experience and reduce stress for cancer patients. Virtual care has the potential to deliver a quality healthcare service for cancer patients, with the aim of making their experience more convenient, more streamlined, and more closely aligned to their needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of virtual wards and care, as well as remote monitoring, was accelerated. Early evidence suggests feedback from patients and staff has been positive. [2,3]
HUMA SACT was one of six innovations shortlisted for the Macmillan Innovation Challenge, delivered in partnership with three Health Innovation Networks: Health Innovation East, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex and Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber. The investment is one of several made as part of Macmillan’s investment portfolio which will invest £3.5 million over the next two years in startup businesses developing ground-breaking cancer care products and technology.
The HUMA SACT Digital Checklist was co-developed with clinicians from East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust at the Woolverstone Macmillan Centre. The checklist was implemented at the Woolverstone Centre in 2023 and initial feedback suggests it is helping improve patient experience and enhance clinical capacity. In partnership with Macmillan and the three Health Macmillan Public Innovation Networks, HUMA will now scale the deployment of the technology to increase reach and impact for people with cancer across the UK.
Health Innovation East, Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex and Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber will facilitate introductions within the NHS and provide expertise to deliver a service evaluation gathering real-world evidence.
Anthony Cunliffe, National Lead Medical Adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support says “We’re delighted to announce HUMA as the winner of the Macmillan Health Innovation Challenge 2023. By using pioneering technology, HUMA’s SACT Digital Checklist app could have a transformational effect on cancer care across the UK by increasing clinical capacity and ultimately improving the experience for many cancer patients, by supporting them to have their health monitored in the comfort of their own home. This could reduce the need for them to travel to and from hospital, thus minimising their risk of infection.”
Karanjit Aujla, VP, Partnerships (HUMA): “We are thrilled that HUMA has won the Macmillan Innovation Challenge and are excited to collaborate with Macmillan to scale our digital SACT platform across the NHS. Our digital SACT checklist already shows a promise for increasing capacity and enhancing both patient and clinician experiences. SACT centers are under unsustainable pressure, and we hope that our solution can help the NHS manage the growing demand more effectively, by streamlining the assessment process and reducing unnecessary burdens on patients. Partnering with Macmillan presents an incredibly exciting opportunity, and together we will work towards improving the experience for many cancer patients and increasing SACT capacity at a critical time for the NHS.”
About Macmillan Cancer Support
At Macmillan, we give people with cancer everything we’ve got. If you’re diagnosed, your worries are our worries. We will do whatever it takes to help you live life as fully as you can. And we don’t stop there. We’re going all out to find ever better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one. As cancer is evolving, so must we. Macmillan will not settle for anything other than the best possible support for people living with cancer. As a charity, we can’t afford to stand still. Now more than ever, we need to take every chance to make a difference. But we cannot do it alone. We have been working with others for over 100 years and will continue to do so. So, we’re working to create a vision of Macmillan that is shaped side by side with the people and communities we exist to support.
To find out more about how Macmillan is doing this visit Transforming Macmillan together | Macmillan Cancer Support Macmillan Public
About the Macmillan Innovation Community
The Macmillan Innovation Community is an opportunity for people living with cancer to harness their knowledge and experience to shape innovative cancer care with Macmillan.
About HUMA
HUMA is a leading global digital health technology company that uses AI to advance digital-first care delivery and research to help people live longer, fuller lives. HUMA’s remote patient monitoring and virtual care service offers a flexible, digital-first approach to healthcare. The easy-to-use, configurable, platform-based digital solution manages patients across the care continuum. For more information, visit www.huma.com.
About The Health Innovation Network
The Health Innovation Network is the innovation arm of the NHS and the collective voice of 15 health innovation networks across England. The networks were created to spread innovation within the NHS, improve health and generate economic growth. The Health Innovation Network works with healthcare organisations and businesses to support the spread of all types of innovation within the NHS, from new technologies to ways of working and service improvements. Health innovation networks bring together the NHS, industry, academic, third sector and local organisations to ensure innovations, improvement and best practice benefit more patients faster. Visit https://thehealthinnovationnetwork.co.uk/for more information.
[1] Systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) is any drug treatment used to control or treat cancer, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
[2] NHS England. Virtual ward including Hospital at Home. March 2022. https://www.england.nhs.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2021/12/B1478-supporting-guidance-virtual-ward-including-hospital-at-home-march-2022-update.pdf (accessed April 2023)
[3] NHS England. A ‘Virtual Ward’ approach to supporting vulnerable and at-risk groups in the community. https://www.england.nhs.uk/nursingmidwifery/shared-governance-and-collective-leadership/nursingcovid-19-catalogue-of-change/a-virtual-ward-approach-to-supporting-vulnerable-and-at-risk-groups-inthe-community (accessed April 2023)