Date of release: 6 April 2023
A recovering cardiac patient has praised a new digital app that has helped her rehabilitation following her shock diagnosis.
Forty-nine-year-old Nikki Hobman suffered a heart attack in November 2022, after what she thought was indigestion.
myHeart – a digital app from my mhealth which helps patients to manage their heart conditions for a lifetime - was launched at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) in February 2023 and this has helped Nikki’s recovery at home. BT supported with the funding to help the Cardiac Service get started on its digital transformation journey.
After having a stent fitted and medication prescribed for life, alongside a diagnosis of diabetes after receiving chemotherapy, Nikki now monitors her health progress on the app, a tool offered to all cardiac rehabilitation patients at RWT.
She was one of the first patients to use the myHeart app and said: “This is an excellent tool to record your weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, medication, upcoming appointments and much more.
“On the app there are short informative videos to watch and I’ve found these more beneficial than reading through a piece of paper you would be given previously.”
Nikki, an office worker from Wolverhampton, has also been diagnosed with depression and this app has helped her mental health too.
“In addition to all the health features, there is also a mind toolkit which includes short videos to help with anxiety, including relaxed breathing techniques. This puts my mind at ease after still being shocked about suffering with a heart attack – I still can’t quite believe it,” she added.
The digital platform is ideal for patients who cannot commit to weekly sessions – they can engage using their smart phone/device from anywhere. This will also free up hospital appointments.
Amie Cooper, Cardiac Rehabilitation Sister, has been working with colleagues for several years to implement the app at RWT.
She said: “This app was designed by clinical experts within the field and is based on the patient’s clinical diagnosis.
“I would urge all eligible patients to get signed up for it to support their rehabilitation. Even if you aren’t tech savvy and you need technical support, we can help with that – you won’t be disappointed.”
For more information on the app please contact the Trust’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Team on email rwh-tr.cardiacrehabteam@nhs.net or by calling 01902 69422.
