A Jersey woman who fought her own life-threatening eating disorder has become the inspiration behind a pioneering new artificial intelligence platform designed to transform care across the UK.
Amy Dingle, now deputy chief executive of Jersey Eating Disorders Support, has lent her name – and her story – to ‘AMY’.
The first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence system aims to help clinicians spot early warning signs of eating disorders and save lives.
Amy was around 12 years old when her relationship with food worsened, and she was in and out of inpatient eating-disorder treatment during her time at university.
Diagnosed with anorexia and later treated by developers Bramacare in 2017, Amy’s experience has directly shaped the new technology – which brings together a patient’s entire clinical picture into one constantly updated digital view.
At least 1.25 million people across the UK are currently living with an eating disorder, with cases rising sharply among young people and NHS services under mounting pressure from increasing referrals.
In Jersey, there were 22 under-18s and 29 adult islanders being supported through the government’s eating-disorder pathway as of June last year.
Amy said her own treatment highlighted the critical importance of joined-up care.
“For anyone going through what I went through, it’s incredibly important that the people caring for you have the right information at the right time and are fully co-ordinated in their approach,” she said.
“AMY will give clinical teams the tools and insight they need to deliver the highest standard of care, providing patients with what I was fortunate to receive – a real chance at recovery.”
The tool is designed by specialist eating disorder service Bramacare, based in Ipswich, where Amy was the first-ever patient.
AMY continuously monitors key indicators including heart readings, blood results, weight changes, medication and dietary intake – all in real time.
Unlike traditional systems, it does not wait for a patient to reach crisis point, but instead detects patterns early and alerts clinicians before conditions become critical.
Developers say this proactive approach could be crucial in easing pressure on overstretched NHS services, while also improving outcomes for patients and families.
Bramacare chief executive Laetitia Beaujard-Ramoo said: “Naming this platform AMY was the easiest decision we ever made.
“Amy was our first patient, and her experience showed us what good care should look like: co-ordinated, consistent, and centred around the individual.
“AMY brings all patient information together in one place to give better oversight on patients and reduce admin time to provide better care outcomes.”
Developed by a specialist clinical team, the platform is now undergoing formal evaluation ahead of regulatory approval, with pilot schemes expected to begin with NHS partners later this year.