People’s Champion finalist 2018: ORCHA

Start-up name: ORCHA
Founders: Liz Ashall-Payne
Started in: September 2015
Based in: Warrington
Business description: A live resource of reviewed and rated health and care apps

Shortlisted category:

The Founders Pledge Social Impact Award

The ORCHA story:

With unprecedented cuts, a shrinking pool of talent and growing waiting lists, the NHS is having some major health issues.

So, what’s the treatment?

Well, it’s no panacea but an increasing number of healthcare apps are providing an accessible and affordable way for people to manage their health without relying on the state-funded service.

Over 165,000 of these have been created since 2015, helping people make positive changes to their lives from the comfort of their own homes. If you can think of an ailment, concern or condition, there’s probably an app for it.

ORCHA (Organisations for the Review of Care and Health Applications). It acts as a resource for reviewed and rated health and care apps.

Users can customise searches to find apps they need based on their assessed value and risks which they can then download through the platform. Health and care professionals can review and recommend apps to their patients and review performance data related to app use, app reviews, and tracking of successful outcomes.

ORCHA’s professional software can be integrated into local strategic health activities and other channels.

Professionals can use it to improve efficiencies and create cost reductions in the delivery of overstretched services. It can also be used by housing associations, fire and rescue services, local authorities and care homes.

What’s more: app developers can harness the detailed feedback and insights to help develop higher quality, safer apps.

Why ORCHA made our shortlist:

Our overstretched and underfunded health service is a very real problem. ORCHA is on a mission to increase the trust, understanding and desire for health and care apps among professionals and users, in a bid to lift the burden on local services.

Additionally, the accessibility of these apps makes them an effective tool for people who find it difficult or are not able to access existing services.

Where to find out more about ORCHA:

Website: www.orcha.co.uk
Twitter: @OrchaUK