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The NHS has launched, the HealthUnlocked Tracker, thay enables patients to track their recovery and help shape their care.  The trial was launched by the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley at the the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) where patients are using the tracker to review their recovery from spinal surgery.

The system allows medical professionals real time access to patient's progress while enabling surgeons to track the value of the operations they carry out.  In addition, the tool provides administrators and commissioners with data to evaluate different types of ooperations.

Mr. Lansley claimed this trial shows how technology can spur innovation in the health service and improve outcomes for patients. Speaking at the launch the Health Secretary pledged the government's support for innovative medical technologies.

Having accurate information at my fingertips about my patients' recovery is groundbreaking," Matthew Shaw, a consultant surgeon at the RNOH said. ""It ensures that I can quickly get to grips with their perspective and provide them with first rate healthcare. As well as saving me time it will also create new insights about spinal surgery for the NHS as a whole."

The system is not only popular with clinicians it seems 95% of patients prefer the online mode than the traditional paper pen approach.

Speaking at the launch Simon Davies, Chair of Cancer52, comments on the future potential for the online health tracker for cancer patients:

“We welcome any initiative which could improve outcomes for patients with less common cancers and believe that this new tracker will do just that. Understanding how current patients are being treated and getting their feedback will help build better services in the future. Cancer52 will be encouraging its patient support group member charities to get involved.”