Signum聽Health has secured 拢400,000 in an equity co-investment led by the Development Bank of Wales, with further聽investment obtained from private investors.
This is the second round of investment the Caerphilly-based company has raised and brings the total funding for the digital聽start-up to 拢600,000.
Launched in 2016, with the help of the ICE 5-9 Club, Signum Health uses聽artificial intelligence and cloud-based technology to deliver remote health care and support within local communities.
Signum Health has also appointed the former CEO of Imperial College NHS Trust and founder of the first Academic Health Science Centre in the UK, Professor Stephen Smith FMedSci, as its Chairman.
Signum Health鈥檚 CEO Victoria Norman said: 鈥淭his latest round of investment will help us to take Signum Health to the next stage of its development.
鈥淲e are already helping GPs surgeries around the UK and we can鈥檛 wait to see Signum Health used in every surgery in the country.
鈥淗aving someone with the experience of Professor Smith coming on board as our Chairman is further validation that Signum Health is innovating in this field and is a much-needed service for the NHS.
鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome him as part of the Signum Health team.鈥�
With a 鈥榤ore than medicine鈥� approach to the changing world of health and social care, Signum Health has developed a cloud-based diagnostic and community referral tool which integrates securely with health and social care IT systems.
Signum Health鈥檚 core company goal is to enable patients, healthcare providers such as pharmacies, GPs and other alternative services, to work more efficiently in sharing health information in a way that benefits everyone.
鈥淲ith a shortfall in the number of General Practitioners, an aging population and increasing financial constraints, health and social care organisations are under severe pressure,鈥� said Norman.
鈥淲e have identified that the sector would benefit from digital technology to create efficiencies, financial savings and ultimately better care for patients.
鈥淪ignum Health provides this exact support through its digital services, alongside and integrated with traditional services, so people can take control of their own health, access care quickly and effectively, whilst allowing the healthcare workforce to be used in a more prudent way.鈥�
Research has found that more than 20 per cent of patients who have an appointment to see their GP actually need help from one or more of the hundreds of local community services, but primary care services have to find the right service for that patient.
Signum Health鈥檚 Social Prescribing Platform enables GPs and other healthcare professionals to refer patients to non-clinical services across the public, private and third sector.
In addition, Signum Health鈥檚 diagnostic platform helps GPs with remote assessment, triage and diagnosis of a wide range of symptoms, including Teledermatology.
This service has allowed hundreds of patients with skin conditions to be assessed and diagnosed by consultant dermatologists within two days of receiving the referral from a GP.
This saves the NHS money and provides reassurance and convenience for patients.