Using Social Media to Improve Practice in Maternity Care and Chronic Kidney Disease

Limited NHS resources require innovative approaches to healthcare. Research at Salford has
led to the development of two digital interventions that respond to this environment and each
one has been especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facemums is the world’s first
professionally moderated social media platform to meet the information and support needs of
pregnant women. The Kidney Information Network (KIN) is an award-winning digital platform that
provides chronic kidney disease patients with the advice and assistance required to manage
their condition. In both cases, the platforms improved users’ understanding and awareness
about their health, facilitated greater self-management of their health and wellbeing and
enhanced overall health and wellbeing outcomes. Additional benefits include changes to
professional attitudes, skill sets and service delivery, enabling NHS Trusts to effectively adapt
the models and increase support provision in response to the pandemic.

This case study was submitted to REF 2021. For more information and to download the full case study, click here.