The NHS Commissioning Board is building a directory of online apps to help people improve their health and wellbeing.

The directory will be a trusted listing of online health and care tools, all of which will be accessible from mobile devices or desktop computers.

The sort of online tool in the directory include things such as care planning to support people living with one or more long-term condition, in which they can create online care plans, record their experiences and invite their carers to see these online.

It will also look at information and advice for older people, particularly if this can help reduce isolation and loneliness. The directory will be revealed at Innovation Expo in March 2013, held in London’s ExCel Centre.

This app centre has come from the Department of Health’s ‘Maps and Apps’ programme, launched last year, which aims to allow GPs to ‘prescribe’ apps to help their patients, after asking the public what kind of apps they would like to see available.

The government received nearly 500 entries and more than 12,600 votes and comments, the entries can be read on the maps and apps blog.

The most popular ideas for apps included help to manage long-term disease like diabetes, and to help monitor conditions such as high blood pressure.

Developers and organisations who want to get involved should email tools.feedback@nhs.net to arrange to speak to the team, or straight to the app submission form at http://apps.nhs.uk.