In busy clinics, every minute counts. For Helen Murphy, Director of Midwifery at Portiuncula University Hospital, the introduction of the HSE Health App will transform how expectant mothers are supported through pregnancy: “I’m encouraging staff and the public to use the app more,” she says. “It’s much easier to have the information in one place and know the content is evidence-based and up to date.”
“Time is of the essence,” Helen continues. “I want women to leave their consultations feeling fully informed about the options available to them, and the app enables them to review and reflect on these choices at their own pace.”
The HSE Health App consolidates guidance into one user-friendly location. Whether an expectant mother asks about a common condition during pregnancy or needs reassurance about medication safety, midwives can refer to the app with confidence.
The app also brings practical benefits beyond clinical use. For clinics, there is less of a need to store printing paper and information leaflets and there is the cost saving that comes with that.
According to Helen, patients are noticing the difference. “Everything you need is on your phone,” she explains. “And we are reducing the amount of information expectant mothers have to physically carry.”
As a keen user and advocate of the app, Helen emphasises the importance of medical staff using it to get familiar with the content, enabling them to promote it effectively to patients:
“We need to be familiar with what’s on the app. That way, when someone asks a question, we can answer it quickly or even better, show them how to find the answer themselves in the app.”
Hospital appointments for maternity services have been available in the app since its launch in February. Since then, thousands more hospital and community appointments have been added and app downloads have grown to over 175,000.
With an increased number of appointments and users, HSE staff are encouraged to use the HSE Health App as a way to guide patients, knowing the information is aligned with current best practices and guidelines.
The HSE Health App is available for download on Google Play for android or the App Store for iOS.