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CONNECTPlus supports first-of-its-kind ADHD service in Somerset

HCI are proud to have partnered with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust to launch a new digital companion for patients across the region's adult ADHD pathway - the first implementation of its kind by an adult ADHD service anywhere in England.

Built on the CONNECTPlus platform, the app is now free to access for anyone with ADHD symptoms across Somerset, giving patients a trusted, single place to turn to at every stage of their care journey.

Why it was needed

Somerset's ADHD service saw growing numbers of patients turning to social media and other online sources for information about ADHD - content that can be useful, but is often overwhelming or inconsistent. Clinicians wanted a credible alternative: something that could clearly explain what ADHD is, what it isn't, and what to expect from assessment through to ongoing care.

That's the gap CONNECTPlus was built to fill.

What the app does

The Somerset ADHD app brings together several CONNECTPlus features into one pathway-specific experience:

  • Patient education and information to support self-management, mental health, financial wellbeing, and signposting to local and national services
  • Appointment tracking and note-taking, so patients can stay organised through each step of the process
  • A personalised pathway section that adapts to where someone is in their journey
  • Clear, myth-busting information about ADHD, including guidance on other conditions that can present with similar symptoms

Content is sequenced deliberately. Before a diagnosis is confirmed, the app focuses on self-help topics - emotional wellbeing, sleep, diet, exercise and everyday coping strategies. Information about medication is only introduced once a diagnosis has been made. Many of these tools are designed to be useful to every user, regardless of the eventual diagnosis.

Supporting better conversations, not replacing them

The team behind the launch were clear that the app's role is to empower patients, not to substitute for clinical care. By giving people balanced, reliable information, the aim is to help them reflect on their own experience and have more informed conversations with their GP - and to make sure they're directed towards the right support as early as possible in their journey.

As clinical lead Rosie Grenter puts it, the aim is "giving people the right information so they can make confident choices" at every step.

Getting the app

Patients across Somerset can access the free CONNECTPlus ADHD app in three ways:

  1. Scan the QR code provided by the service
  2. Search "CONNECTPlus" on the App Store or Google Play
  3. Visit the link provided by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in a browser 

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In each case, patients create an account and select "Somerset NHS Foundation Trust" to unlock the ADHD pathway content.

You can read more about Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's experience with CONNECTPlus here

This launch reflects HCI's ongoing work with NHS trusts to put patients at the centre of their care - giving them trusted information at the right time so that they can better self-manage their conditions and to reduce demand on the health system.

If you would like to find out how you can use CONNECTPlus to reduce your ADHD waiting list, please contact us here