Sara Nelson, NHS asthma pioneer, Queen's nurse and digital app champion

Up, Up and Away - the digital health podcast

In this episode of the "Up, Up and Away" podcast, hosted by Dom Burch with co-host Saira Arif, guest Sara Nelson, a nurse by background and a passionate advocate for asthma care, shares her extensive experience in transforming children and young people's health services through digital innovation.
The episode sheds light on the evolution of asthma care, emphasising the importance of digital tools like the Digital Health Passport in managing the condition.

Sara discusses her journey from a nurse specialising in cardiothoracic care to becoming a pivotal figure in asthma management. Her work includes founding impactful initiatives like the "Ask About Asthma" campaign and the "Right Inhaler Image" campaigns, aiming to standardise asthma care and educate on proper inhaler use. Sara highlights the significance of these programmes: '#AskAboutAsthma campaign, is the importance of having an asthma action plan, ensuring people know how to use their inhalers and having annual reviews."
She reflects on the transformation in asthma care, noting the progress made in standardising treatments and the shift towards digital health solutions that empower patients to manage their conditions effectively. Sara proudly mentions the collaborative effort in London that led to the development of the National Asthma bundle of care, which was inspired by successful models in Finland.
Sara highlights the importance of co-production in health app development, emphasising that involving patients in the design process ensures the tools meet their needs and improve self-management. And recalls first meeting Saira, "It was great to have you as one of the first people who used the asthma app, it really helped with some of that initial patient engagement,".
The conversation also covers broader issues of air quality and its impact on asthma, underlining the ongoing need for public health initiatives and education to reduce asthma triggers in the environment.
This episode serves as a powerful testament to the benefits of integrated, patient-centred care and the potential of digital tools to revolutionise healthcare for chronic conditions like asthma. Sara's insights and experiences provide valuable lessons on the importance of adaptability, collaboration, and innovation in healthcare.
For more information on the Digital Health Passport and to hear more insightful discussions on digital health, listeners can visit Digital Health Passport.