A NUMBER of software companies in the north have come together to produce a vital new app for the healthcare service in a move described as “unprecedented in the industry”.
The Department of Health's new Covid-19 information app was commissioned and delivered in just two weeks by cloud software specialists Civica in partnership with Big Motive.
Civica's managing director Mark Owens said: “Covid-19 NI is one of the first dedicated tool of its kind in the UK and Ireland and demonstrates that our local Department of Health and the HSC were well ahead of the game in knowing exactly what they wanted and securing it in record time.
“The app is simple to download and use and has three core functions, firstly an in-app symptom checker for coronavirus leading the user to appropriate medical advice and onward links to further information; secondly a chat bot with natural language interface to answer users’ questions which will be enhanced and expanded with time, usage and feedback; and thirdly a push notification service with the ability to push messages out to user's devices very similar to text messages alerting people to things like significant changes to official status or advice.”
He added: “Our brief was to provide a trusted single source of information dedicated to providing the population of Northern Ireland with immediate advice that should ease pressure on GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals.
“I cannot stress how unprecedented it is in our industry to produce an app of this nature so quickly and we could not have done it without the skills and dedication of our developers who were determined to do their best to support our amazing NHS.
“We all know the pressure on our medical services is going to be extraordinary and we believe this is going to be a critical tool for those who need local information immediately.
“It is the duty of every business in Northern Ireland to do their bit to support the Executive, the Government Departments and to realise that it is vital we all work together to beat this pandemic, use our skills, our ingenuity and retool where necessary to support each other and our economy.”
