Inventor : Dr Nazima Pathan, Paediatrics
Dr Pathan is a clinical academic working in paediatric intensive care. She has developed a digital tool called MyPICUStory to act as mental health support for the parents and siblings of babies in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
When a child is admitted to intensive care, parents go through one of the most frightening experiences of their lives. The environment of a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is full of machines, alarms, and life-or-death decisions. Parents often feel helpless, exhausted, and overwhelmed. Research shows that around one in three parents develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the months after their child leaves PICU, with many more suffering from depression or anxiety. These problems can last for years, affecting not only parents’ wellbeing but also their ability to support their child’s recovery and family life.
At present, there is no structured support pathway for parents. Children often receive follow-up care and rehabilitation, but parents are left to cope alone. Many only reach help once symptoms have become severe, at which point they may need GP appointments, medication, or referral to community mental health services. This creates a hidden but significant burden on NHS services. International studies suggest that adults with PTSD cost health systems an extra £2,000–£3,500 per year, mainly through higher service use and lost work. With about 20,000 children admitted to UK PICUs each year, even if only one fifth of parents develop long-term PTSD, this could cost the NHS £25–45 million annually.
My PICU Story is a digital health app that has been co-designed with parents and clinicians to support families during and after PICU. It is already live on iOS and Android, and has been described by parents as empowering and reassuring. The app currently provides resources such as journalling, mood tracking, explanations of PICU equipment, sleep and relaxation tools, and sibling support. Clinicians value it as a safe and appropriate way to support families.
The app was originally designed and used in Cambridge University Hospitals, and the inventor now plans to release it more widely, to make it available for wider healthcare settings and internationally.
The question for the i-Team is to investigate the best ways of commercialising MyPICUStory.. This will involve interviews with relevant stakeholders, so that the i-Team can recommend the best route-to-market, as well as identifying potential barriers to adoption. How can the software be made available to the people who need it, and what sources of funding might be available to take it forward?