A TEAM of heart care professionals at a hospital serving Thurrock have won a prestigious award for their work using an innovative mobile app to monitor patients' health.

The Arrhythmia team from the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre (CTC) at Basildon Hospital, part of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, have won the Digital Innovation award at this year's Global Cardiovascular Awards.

This recognises how they are helping patients from across mid and south Essex monitor their heart rhythm remotely using a mobile app.

The smartphone app, called Fibricheck, uses light from a patient's smartphone camera to measure blood flow in their finger, tracking irregular heart rhythm after a procedure and shares the data with the team at the CTC in real-time.

Staff at the hospital can then review and track variations in heart rate and offer guidance or adjust the patient's medication remotely, reducing their need to make regular trips to the hospital.

Sharon Toora, Lead Arrhythmia Nurse Specialist at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to have won the Digital Innovation award. It's a reflection of the outstanding work by the team and the real difference that Fibricheck has made in improving the quality of care for our patients."

The initial pilot of the project was funded by Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity, with further funding from the Charity and Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board.