NHS Highland is piloting a smartphone app that it says could help to improve the quality of life for people with Crohn’s disease.

Patients with the inflammatory bowel disease are asked to answer questions on their health each day by ticking boxes on the app.

The first project of its kind in the UK, it provides up-to-date information on the condition of patients.

It also helps health staff decide what advice patients need.

NHS Highland nurse practitioner, Lesley Mann, said: “The patients fill in a diary every night.

“Patients tick boxes on the app answering questions around their general health every day such as how many times have they been to the toilet or how they are feeling and so on.

“It can be done really quickly – it doesn’t even take two minutes.”

She added: “I look at how well they tell us they feel, look at their bowel movements and I can message them with any advice or support.”

The pilot has received funding from the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Prof Angus Watson, a consultant surgeon at NHS Highland Consultant Surgeon, came up with the idea for the smartphone app.

Full Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-24947252#!