Forward - the communications tool for NHS health professionals
by Startacus Admin
Forward - the secure app for NHS clinicians to easily and instantly communicate with each other, share 
patient information, and prioritise tasks
The NHS always seems to be in the news, either as a victim of poor pay and unfair treatment of nurses or as the object of criticism. This service that the country relies on to help them when they are unwell isn’t doing particularly well in keeping up with modernity.
One way this presents itself to NHS staff is communications. In 2018, doctors and nurses are still using archaic communication systems like pagers and landlines and switchboards. This absurdly outdated, time-wasting system needs to change to save time and undue stress, and a 
group of London doctors have decided to do just that.
Junior doctors Lydia Yarlott and Barney Gilbert partnered with mobile entrepreneur Philip Mundy to create Forward, a secure app for NHS clinicians to easily and instantly communicate with each other, share patient information, and prioritise tasks.
Staff can share images to ask for opinions and advice; find anyone in the hospital through the directory, rather than needing that person’s contact number beforehand for the likes of WhatsApp; and, vitally, they can see the importance of an instant message, rather than a simple pager notification, which comes with no measure of urgency.
Security is obviously hugely important, and the app is secure all of the way. From accessing it only with an NHS-
approved email address and pin, to encryption of transmitted information, to secure cloud storage. Even within the app, users can only access information that either they themselves created or that has been specifically shared with them.
Earlier this year Forward raised $1.3m in seed funding, and the free app is already being used by 2000 clinical staff in the UK so far. Forward calculates that the app can save these staff up to an hour every day. Considering that this hour would otherwise be wasted running about answering pages and trying to get hold of other staff on landlines, etc., that’s a significant time-saving that could literally be a life-saver.
If you like the sound of this HealthTech startup, you might also want to read up on:
Phlo - an innovative app which is providing a real-time NHS pharmacy delivery service.
Storiicare - innovation in person centred care.
OurPath, which combines digital technology with lifestyle changes to help people live more active lives and prevent or lessen symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Crypto financial services startup Nebeus launches a £1.1m crowdfunding campaign to bring banking services to 2 billion unbanked people.
Zencargo, a digital freight forwarder on a mission to simplify global trade, announces its seed plus round, led by LocalGlobe, bringing total funds raised to over $4m
BleepBleeps - The lowdown on the tech parenting brand that's creating innovative connected products to make the art of parenting easier!
Lumen - The new dating app that's been specifically designed for over 50s to meet genuine like-minded singles...
Startacus teamed up with inaugural Innovation Nation 2018 to deliver Ascend, an all-Ireland tech startup pitch competition. The startups that will be pitching at Innovation Nation 2018 are:
Liverpool based startups and entrepreneurs take note - here's the lowdown on key startup support and help available where you are...
Thortful - The startup that's providing a creative card marketplace for designers, illustrators and photographers...
We are liking the sound of Feels FM, an emoji-powered jukebox using music as a positive coping strategy, & to find new ways to talk about mental health.
Innovative startups and businesses designed and focused on empowering and embracing female consumers.
P2P investment aggregator Orca raises £500K on equity crowdfunding platform, Seedrs within two days.
Published on: 15th April 2018
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Digital freight forwarder Zencargo announces its seed plus round 24th Sep 2018 Zencargo, a digital freight forwarder on a mission to simplify global trade, announces its seed plus round, led by LocalGlobe, bringing total funds raised to over $4m
- P2P investment aggregator Orca raises £500k in two days 18th Sep 2018 P2P investment aggregator Orca raises £500K on equity crowdfunding platform, Seedrs within two days.
- Wincanton innovation programme W2 Labs looks to tech startups 18th Sep 2018 British logistics company Wincanton is looking for tech startups to pitch their solutions for industry specific challenges, as part of their returning W2 Labs innovation programme.
- Spotify for textbooks Perlego raises $4.8m 16th Sep 2018 Perlego - billed as the 'Spotify for textbooks' - has closed a $4.8m venture round, signalling a new chapter for the growing company on a mission to make textbooks more accessible.
