Heathcare Efficiency through Technology

At StratifiedHealth we aim to 'bring healthcare into the digital age' but what does that actually mean? And, more importantly, what does the future of healthcare in the UK look like? Last month we went to the Healthcare Efficiency through Technology Expo in London to talk to the experts and find out how the government aims to use technology to save the NHS £3 billion by 2015.
Beckie Port | Friday 1 November 2013

The UK has definitely entered the digital era 86% of us use the internet and 36 million of us access the internet every day. In relation to our health, nearly 50% of people in the UK go online in search of medical information, double that in 2007. But here's the question, if you have searched for health information online do you remember what the source of that information was? Maybe it was is a reliable site such as NHS health or perhaps it was somewhere less reliable. One of the challenges in this digital era is making sure that the health information we are all searching for is available, understandable and accurate. 

The UK healthcare system is in the midst of a digital challenge that will see a £1 billion investment in technology to deliver the governments commitment of allowing everyone to book GP appointments and order repeat prescriptions online, and access their GP record by March 2015. At the expo we had the chance to talk to the companies behind a paperless NHS, learn about how our medical records are becoming electronic and question the experts about how these changes will impact on the future of healthcare. We had the chance to see the latest in home health monitoring - telecare and telehealth - systems, and were shown a future where doctors will be consulting a computer tablet instead of a clipboard on their ward rounds. 

Information is driving advances in medicine and healthcare, which are developing at an unprecedented pace, and we now have the opportunity to understand, prevent and control many diseases. One of the ways the government is helping us understand disease is to make this information, or 'big data', available through data.gov.uk in the form of Health Surveys. These surveys monitor the nations health and help track progress towards targets that will make the country healthier. The surveys also help evaluate and shape health policy, estimate the proportion of people with specific health conditions and give us information about risk factors that contribute to disease. All the information is available to the public and could be used to help inform your health choices. The challenge is to make the most out of this data, something that the government is keen  to encourage. That's where StratifiedHealth comes in, we want to help you understand more about your health by providing you with the information that is relevant to you, in a way you use to take control of your future.

We hear a lot about the problems behind the current model of medical care; it is based around  hospitals and health centres not at your home where you want it, care is focused on managing problems after they arise rather than preventing them, and it is not made personal for you. Here at StratifiedHealth we are tackling some of those problems today by helping you analyse various aspects of your health, see what the best levels would be, and take steps to correct it with personalised supplements and advice all from the comfort of your own home. 

We are busy getting our website up an running so we can help you work towards the best health possible. Working together we can help you reduce your risk of disease and help you live a longer, healthier life. If you would like to be the first to know when the website is live follow @StratHealth or sign up to our newsletter...

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The UK's Vitamin D 'Epidemic'

How is your lifestyle and diet affecting you health? This week is national vitamin D awareness weeks and news today reports that the UK appears to be in the middle of an 'epidemic' that has left up to 90% of the population deficient for Vitamin D and at risk of bone disease.
Beckie Port | Friday 24 October 2013

The discovery of the extent of our nations vitamin deficiency follows a five-fold increase in the number of case of rickets in the last 15 years. Rickets, a bone deforming disease that is caused by vitamin D deficiency, was common in the Victorian era had been nearly eradicated by the addition of vitamin D to foods such as milk, margarine and cereal. However, it would appear that poor diet and lack of sunshine have lead to a nation that is vitamin D deficient and a return of 'Victorian health standards' 1.

Our nations Vitamin D levels

Studies have found up to 9 out of 10 adults have inadequate levels of vitamin D - 1 in 6 having severe deficiency - and estimate that 40% of children could have lower than recommended levels 2,3. These findings have encouraged NICE to examine whether all children ages 6 months to 5 years should be given vitamin supplements that are currently only available to children of low income families but may now be necessary as a preventative measure and ensure our children grow up with healthy bones 4-6.

Side effects of Vitamin D deficiency

Many people with vitamin D deficiency do not show symptoms or simple feel fatigued or have more aches and pains. Severe or long term deficiency can lead to brittle or painful bones, and muscle weakness and has also been linked to other conditions including heart problems and autoimmune disease 7-9.

What can I do?

Deficiency is easy to correct as most of our vitamin D comes from the sun - during the summer just 10 minutes of sunshine each day allows our skin to make sufficient amounts of vitamin D3. As suncream blocks 99% of possible vitamin D production the advice is to spend frequently, short periods of time in the sun without suncream but to avoid burning, which can increase your rick of skin cancer. The increase use of suncream, which is now present in many face moisturisers, is another factor that may be contributing to this current epidemic. 

However from the months of October to March the sun is not strong enough - and does not have the required UVB rays - to allow the skin to produce vitamin D. Instead we must get our vitamin D from foods such as oily fish and eggs; which are high in vitamin D2, fortified milk, yogurt and cheese or from supplements.

I'm thinking of taking supplements, how much should I take?

The Department of Health in UK recommends that:-

• all pregnant and breastfeeding women should take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (0.01mg or 400IU) of vitamin D to ensure the mother's requirements for vitamin D are met and to build adequate foetal stores for early infancy

• all babies and young children aged six months to five years should take a daily supplement containing vitamin D in the form of vitamin drops to help them meet the requirement set for this age group of 7-8.5 micrograms (0.007-0.0085mg or 280-340IU) of vitamin D a day 

• babies fed infant formula will not need vitamin drops until they are receiving less than 500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as these products are fortified with vitamin D 

• breastfed infants may need to receive drops containing vitamin D from one month of age if their mother has not taken vitamin D supplements throughout pregnancy

• people aged 65 years and over and people not exposed to much sun should also take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (0.01mg or 400IU) of vitamin D 10.

1. Harries, C 2012
2. Morton, JP 2012
3. Madden, K 2012
4. http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13795/63153/63153.pdf
5. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/PHG/71
6. Marchisio, P 2013
7. Baeke, F 2010
8. Pearce, SH 2010
9. http://www.nos.org.uk/document.doc?id=1352
10. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/Vitamin-D.aspx

At StratifiedHealth we want to help you work towards the best health possible, by treating people as individuals and helping them to analyse, understand and manage their health we are working towards a healthier nation. We are busy getting our website up an running were we will be helping you to assess and take control of aspects of your health. If you would like to know more, or be the first to know when the website is live, follow @StratHealth or sign up to our newsletter...

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