LIVI, the UK division of Swedish digital healthcare provider, KRY, has announced additional major NHS partnerships in the UK, enabling access to app-based video GP consultations for more than 1.85 million patients.
KRY launched its app in France and the UK (under brand name LIVI) in 2018 after securing $66m (€53m) in Series B funding. Earlier this year, Juliet Bauer, the former chief digital officer for NHS England, joined the startup as VP of product.
LIVI is already operating in North-West Surrey, with the service available to over 360,000 patients. Now it will be extended to Birmingham, Shropshire, Northamptonshire, and parts of the South-East, as well as extending services to more practices in Surrey.
The increased deals come as a result of collaboration with local Federations including Our Health Partnership, Northampton General Practice Alliance, and Alliance for Better Care, and expands on work with the NICS GP Federation in North-West Surrey.
Video consultations are being touted as a new way to reduce the strain of GPs while offering them greater working flexibility.
Telehealth also allows doctors to quickly see to patients with less urgent needs remotely so that they can spend more time with those that need more in-depth care in the surgery.
Luke Buhl-Nielsen, UK country manager, LIVI said: “LIVI’s mission is to improve access to primary care for every patient, and we do so in a way that significantly relieves pressure on GP surgeries.
Our first partnership in North-West Surrey highlighted within the first six months the positive impact that LIVI can have – offering GPs greater workplace flexibility, decreasing attendance at A+E or Urgent Care Centres, while delivering excellent care for every patient. We’re excited to see the future impact of our new partnerships for both patients and care providers.”
LIVI’s partnership with the NHS gives patients access to UK-trained GPs via an app, extending access to primary care services during core hours as well as out of hours and weekends.
When patients book an appointment with LIVI, they will speak to an NHS GP, just as they would if they were attending an appointment in the surgery, skirting the long, unpleasant waiting room experience.
LIVI patients can access medical advice, referrals and prescriptions all within the app, and without having to be deregistered from their current GP surgery — as opposed to competitor, Babylon GP at Hand’s offering, which is available in London and Birmingham.
The NHS’ accelerated moves towards digital health and telemedicine reflect the significant pressure that the UK’s Primary Care Networks are under, with the service struggling to recruit and retain doctors, particularly in crucial areas such as paediatrics.
Asimah Hanif, lead GP at LIVI said: “Our aim first and foremost is to partner with NHS services to deliver an improved, more flexible service for patients which cuts waiting times at the same time as driving up the quality of GP consultations. I am proud we are bringing this service to even more patients, in even more parts of the country, and in the process supporting local NHS GPs to deliver care in a more flexible and responsive way.”
