Doctors at Ysbyty Gwynedd are testing a smartphone app as part of a clinical trial to help patients stay as safe as possible during their chemotherapy treatment.

Patients who have been invited to take part in the Keep Me Safe trial are using the app to help them take the right steps if any complications occur during their treatment.

The bilingual app, designed by Caernarfon based digital agency Galactig, can be shared with the patient’s partner, carer or friend who can actively support their safety as they undergo treatment.

Glynnis Gaines, from Llandudno, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer is using the app with her husband, Alan.

She said: “When I was asked if I wanted to take part in the trial I wasn’t too sure at first as I’m not very good with technology!

“I was pleasantly surprised with how easy the app is to use and it’s great that my husband can also have the app on his phone.

“He can make sure I’m using it every day to log how I’m feeling which really gives me reassurance during my treatment.”

Patients require to answer a set amount of questions through the app each day, such as if they are experiencing shortness of breath or have any chest pains, and an alert goes to their chosen ‘buddy’ to notify them that this has been logged.

The app was designed by Derick Murdoch, from Galactig, who developed the app to help his mother who was undergoing chemotherapy.

He said: “Shortly after my mother was diagnosed with cancer, we began working on the app.

“During the development I was able to utilise one of its core concepts – that ‘patient safety is a network’.

"Remotely doing checklists enabled me to take part in my mothers’ care despite her being hundreds of miles away.”

See this week’s north papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition on Thursday