At just 24-years-old, Tim Bassett says he is on the cusp of transforming GP services with an app and AI technology that could slash time pressures at practices.
he journalism, PR, and marketing graduate’s Medik AI, is about to undergo its first stage of trials after which Tim hopes to roll out the service to all GP practices.
“It’s been a kind of weird journey,” the entrepreneur, who is from Ballynahinch, says.
Tim went to Wallace High School in Lisburn. Afterwards, he studied at Salford University in Manchester.
He worked part-time at an Apple store while studying and earned extra money working on a few businesses’ social media accounts.
He moved back to Northern Ireland last year and is now based in Banbridge. He also works at Anaeko, a data engineering firm in Belfast, while he builds the medical app.
“I attended different events, tech events that I wouldn’t be privy to if I hadn’t have gotten that job with Anaeko,” he says.
“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and through those events I heard a lot of talk about med tech and innovation in the healthcare sector for a better service level .”
It was only after Tim contracted Covid-19, which led to complications, that Medik AI became a serious business goal.
“During Christmas last year, I struggled with Covid which led to pneumonia and a blood infection. It was hard to get in contact with the right people at the start. The public health system was pushed to the limit.
“I kept thinking there is bound to be an easier way to access public health and I suppose that experience was the inspiration.
" Having Covid made me think of a digital method that would allow patients to complete their own triage could then be sent to the GP for review.
“I also found out from a study that nearly 90% of GP visits could have been redirected to alternative points of care, say pharmacy or social care. It shows that demand is being put on GPs because people don’t know what to do or where to go and this app can help with that.”
Medik.AI is a downloadable application that puts patients through a rigid security check before they complete a basic triage that allows them to input information and even attach pictures. Tim describes the process as a detailed one.
He says: “The big issue we found out when talking to GPs was they have a two-stage process which is a phone call and an initial triage. That’s a lengthier process than it needs to be and it takes up unnecessary time.
"A typical practice manager only has 15 triage spots per day and if you compare that number to the amount of calls they receive daily, there is no way that can be a successful process.
“We’ve created something that allows patients to get appropriate care and it means if you’re sick you can be treated so much quicker.”
Tim says the AI element of the app will allow healthier patients to receive immediate advice while those with more serious conditions will receive a call or get the necessary advice to contact emergency services where necessary.
The app is user friendly and accessible to everyone, he adds.
“That was important to me as a creative person. We want this app to be second nature, we don’t want to make something that is overly complicated. Healthcare shouldn’t be like that. It’s inaccessible digitally as it is.”
The feedback from GPs so far has been promising.
“I think anything that would help GPs maximise patient experience is welcome and I know that all practice managers and GPs are very open to a digital solution.”
Tim is not alone in driving Medik AI forward. He has two other co-founders, Ethan Campbell and Richard Eccles, who he met during the Catalyst Co-Founder programme. Ethan is chief commercial officer, Richard is chief operations officer and Tim is chief executive.
That three-month process concluded with Medik.AI winning £10,000 in funding.
The business is now applying for more funding — two separate £50,000 funding rounds.
“I’m looking at £100,000 and if we can get that then we can look at bigger seed funding. I want to get to that point as quickly as possible. By the time I’m 30, I would like to be a self-made millionaire.”
Tim credits his family for their support during the making of Medik.AI. He says his entrepreneurial drive comes from his grandfather, a technical engineer who made lamps and furniture.
His mother is a compliance manager at a medical recruitment company while his father is a financial advisor.
“They’re super supportive especially on frustrating days when you think you’re not getting anywhere and it’s great to have them behind me.
“There is great potential for this service on a subscription basis and the potential to make £5m in revenue here and across the UK that could go up to £16m a year. The goal is to get to that point as quickly as possible."
