Kindocoin Innovation Challenge

Creating Digitally Connected Communities Focusing on Avoiding Delayed Discharges from Hospital

Background Summary

The Kindocoin project stems from an idea from a clinician in NHS Lothian to create more resilient communities able to better support each other though volunteering and from that then reducing the increasing demands now placed on the wide range of statutory services.

In beginning this journey, the first innovation challenge was to seek prototype solutions to increase volunteering in the community to support hospital delayed discharges. The challenge is being run in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise, who are funding it through the CanDo Fund and was tested in in five Health and Social Care areas within the East Region.  Phase 2 is running with 2 companies who were selected to further develop and evaluate their prototype solutions over a 12 month period, working with the same test bed throughout

Phase 1 of the challenge finished in December 2020 and after a delay in starting phase 2, this phase is due to be completed by the 10th April 2023.

Challenge Objectives

Phase 1 aimed to develop a feasible solution that will enable people awaiting discharge from hospital but are prevented from doing this due to the lack of someone (a friend /relative, care provider) being available, to then be securely connected with a registered volunteer who with their approval will be available to support them in safely getting settled back in their home.

In Phase 2, the challenge focus remains on enabling the creation of strong supportive, valued and digitally connected communities, utilising the enablement of people getting home sooner following a hospital stay as the test case scenario to evaluate the prototype solution.

Clinical Lead for the Challenge

The Clinical Lead for this innovation challenge is Dr Larry Hayward, Associate Medical Director for Cancer Services and Oncology Consultant at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh – and the originator of the idea.

Delivery Partners

NHS Lothian

Challenge Solvers:

Uppertunity CIC

Team Kinetic

Outputs expected

The expected outcome of Phase 2 should provide a digital mechanism to augment and complement discharge procedures currently in place within Edinburgh hospital settings. This should be achieved by digitising current processes and developing a system that will provide reliable, accurate and rapid access to information and support.

The system should be developed to provide front line staff with timely access to discharge support for patients in their care, including:

  • Search functionality e.g., filtering by locality; support required; or patient need
  • Information on available organisation and what can be provided
  • Simple request forms
  • Progress updates straight to device
  • Provides options to record volunteering contributions, for example type and number, and reports summarising contribution if an individual or organisation requests this.
  • Demonstrate the capacity to deploy via personal devices and/or existing digital systems in the third sector, Health or Social Care settings.
  • Be a solution affordable for commissioning by the public and third sector. In support of this, the assessors will be keen to see the planned business model that will allow access to the solution by the public sector and others (charities, other organisations). At this stage there is NOT the intention that the solution will offer open access to individual volunteers or patients. Rather it will be utilised by health and social care organisations in partnership with third sector partners (volunteering organisations etc) to coordinate and manage the support needed as quickly as possible to enable timely discharge home with minimal delays.
  • The functionality to track individual volunteer contributions is required, either anonymised or individualised at volunteer’s request, categorised by the nature of the request for support and measured by the time committed by the volunteer.  However, third sector organisations and/or volunteers will retain the option of opting in or out of this process.
  • Be a solution that can ensure compliance with all the relevant Governance and Regulatory Requirements.
  • Be a commercially viable solution for adoption locally, nationally, and globally.

SBRI Key Dates

Work on phase 2 began on 11th April 2022 and due to finish on the 10th April 2023.  End reports for Phase 2 are expected before 21st April 2023.

Funding Partner

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by Scottish Enterprise via the Can Do Innovation Fund and hosted by Health Innovation South East Scotland.