NHS Lothian will roll-out a new long Covid technology platform following a successful pilot phase, with a mobile app due to launch over the next few weeks.

The Long Covid digital pathway, which involves GPs onboarding patients to the platform, was created by software development company Pogo Studio along with NHS Lothian and Chest, Heart, and Stroke Scotland (CHSS).

Patients receive Tailored Talks through the platform by filling in a Covid questionnaire, with the digital pathway enabling CHSS to provide remote guidance and care to patients.

The platform utilises Pogo’s flagship information-sharing product Tailored Talks within the company’s fast growing digital healthcare division – Pogo Digital Healthcare.

Medical Director at NHS Lothian Tracey Gillies said: “The Long Covid digital pathway developed by Pogo Studio, NHS Lothian, and CHSS, is a great example of how the NHS, the third, and private sectors can work together to build a truly innovative solution to the challenges faced by people with long Covid.”

Tailored Talks, which is already being used by NHS Lothian and Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland to help patients as they are coming out of an Intensive Care Unit after Covid, was developed alongside Professor Timothy Walsh, Director of Research and Innovation at NHS Lothian.

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Jack Francis, CEO and Founder, Pogo Studio, said: “The Long Covid pathway has really shifted the direction of the business and it has been fantastic to see such great feedback from patients, clinicians and the charity sector.”

Pogo, which moved into its new Edinburgh headquarters in CodeBase at the end of 2021, was founded by CEO Francis in 2016, with Trickle founder and CEO Paul Reid appointed to the company’s board in 2020.

The company’s client base also includes NHS Scotland, Signal Mutual, one of North America’s largest shipping and port authority insurance groups, Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest, Miller Homes and social enterprise Hey Girls.

Pogo has made a series of senior hires over the last twelve months, while securing several client wins, and embarking on its first external investment round. The company has built on double-digit revenue growth in 2021 and is forecasting a revenue increase of around 50% in the current year.

Francis added: “We have got amazing clients across a range of sectors, and our next phase of growth is going to see us win more business outside Scotland including in North America. It’s an exciting time for myself and the team.”

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