WISE celebrates Social Prescribing Day
WISE support National Social Prescribing Day with announcement of two new digital health apps
The Wellness Improvement Service (WISE) is celebrating National Social Prescribing Day with the announcement of two exciting new digital healthcare app partnerships.
The first is with the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps -(ORCHA)One of the world’s leading app review and distribution companies, ORCHA has already created app libraries for 70% of NHS trusts, health boards and other organisations in the UK.
Patients on specific secondary care waiting lists, who will be supported by the Wellness Improvement Service (WISE) from April 2022, will have personal access to a tailored digital healthcare library, thanks to this new partnership.
The second partner, Elemental Software, is an award-winning social prescribing software company whose technology is used in community health and wellbeing to empower and enable individuals to better connect into community-based programmes, services, and healthcare interventions.
The adoption of Elemental’s digital platform will enable WISE to help support patients access several opportunities to improve their physical and mental health outcomes; promote wellbeing; and support the reduction of health inequalities across the Health Board’s regional population.
It is becoming common practise that digital tools are used to supplement face-to-face healthcare, empowering citizens to manage their own health, and helping reduce NHS spending. Health apps are increasingly being used to support patients and service users with long-term conditions such as cancer and diabetes, and with lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and diet management.
Liza Thomas-Emrus , Lead Clinician with WISE said: “Taking into consideration our holistic lifestyle medicine ethos at WISE and the rapid growth of social prescribing app usage in Wales, we are extremely excited to have partnered with the digital health experts at ORCHA and Elemental.
“Our team views health and care apps as a crucial step on the journey to a more patient-centred, self-managed healthcare approach – something close to our own hearts.
“Social prescribing apps will also help us overcome the current post pandemic challenges we face at Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, and, with the future in mind, provide an alternative healthcare approach to our population with ever increasing life expectancy and more long-term conditions.”
ORCHA reviews health apps against 350 tough standards, including elements of the NICE framework – and only apps which achieve a score of over 65% for clinical assurance, data privacy and usability will be featured on its app libraries. Fresh reviews are then triggered each time an app is updated, so that standards are maintained.
For further information please email: CTM.WISE@wales.nhs.uk or call us on 01685 351 451.
Visit our website at: https://ctmuhb.nhs.wales/wise-ctm
View the Elemental website at https://elementalsoftware.co
View the ORCHA website at https://orchahealth.com
View the CTM WISE ORCHA website at https://ctmwise.orcha.co.uk