28 July 2021
Paul Dancer, from the West Midlands, has been on service with Sciensus for half a decade. He explains how receiving injectables at home has improved his life.
Paul was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 1994, and has his self-administered weekly injectables delivered by Sciensus.
He explains that tech developments have made the process of self-injecting easier: “Until a couple of years ago,” he says, “I’d be delivered prefilled syringes, which you have to put the needle onto, and then inject.
“If you’ve got arthritis in your hand, a syringe is not easy to use. Now, it’s easier. All you do is take the end off, place it against your body, press the button, and it injects. It’s a brilliant piece of innovation.”
His arthritis has been kept manageable through exercise after initial advice that he should “get to the gym and work into a frenzy”. DIY projects have also kept him active, and having his treatment delivered has increased freedom and flexibility in his day-to-day life.
Digital innovation in patient communication
Paul is a member of the Sciensus Readers’ Panel, which advises on the best way to communicate with patients. As part of this, he has been involved with the development of a new app, which he believes will “give patients a lot more confidence”.
The app will offer more than the ability to order medication, he says; there will be consultants available to talk to, articles setting out vital information, and groups related to patients’ specific medical issues.
“It’s going to form a community,” he explains. It is something that Paul is proud to be part of: “Via the app, you can link everything together. It’s taking pressure off the NHS, which is brilliant.”
