ARCH(ARegional Collaborationfor Health)
ARCHInnovationForumReturns
TheARCHInnovationForumreturnedthisyeartosupportinnovationsinhealth. LedbyHywelDdaandSwanseaBayUniversityHealthBoardswithSwansea University,itconnectshealthinnovatorswithclinical,academic,andindustry experts.ItaccelerateshealthcareinnovationinSouthwestWalesbyconnecting innovatorswithmedical,academic,andindustryexperts.TheForumprovidesa safespaceforinnovatorstopresenttheirideas,receiveconstructivefeedback, andconnectwithsupportresources.
TheForuminMaysawfiveinnovatorspresentedprojectsrangingfromservice redesigntoearly-stageproducts.Expertpanelsprovidedguidance,fostering refinement,regulatoryinsight,andfundingconnections.
TheForumcontinuestosparkcollaborationandaccelerateinnovationinhealth andcare.Welookforwardtowelcomingthenextwaveofideasatthe September2025event.
CwmTafMorgannwg UniversityHealthBoard
InnovationShowcaseinCareHomesevent
TheCHCteamhostedthefirst‘InnovationShowcaseinCareHomes’eventin CwmTafMorgannwgUniversityHealthBoard.
Carehomeshadtheopportunitytosharetheirpositivework,showcasingthe differencebeingmadeeverydayforresidentsacrossCwmTafMorgannwg.
WeheardaninsightfulsessiononaccountabilityanddelegationfromtheRoyal CollegeofNursing,areflectivewellbeingsessionledbyAnnaPlayleandDr LucyFishleigh,andaforward-lookingsessionondigitaltransformationwith SimonReid.Afternoonspotlightsessionsincludedinformativetalkson vaccinations,advancedcareplanning,clinicalnavigationhubandoccupational therapy.OnecasestudyshonealightonAnwenBakery,whichwascreatedby AnwenCareHometoimprovewell-being.
Withposters,stalls,andaroomfullofideas,theeventmarkedanexcitingstep inconnectingandcelebratinginnovationacrossourcarehomesinCwmTaf Morgannwg.
PensionCredituptakeinnovationsprint
InresponsetoUKGovernment2024discontinuationofwinterfuelpaymentsin EnglandandWales,ourmulti-organisationalprojecteffectivelyaddressedthe gapinPensionCredituptakeamongeligibleindividualsinCwmTaf Morgannwg.Withanestimated7000peopleintheareanotclaimingtheir entitledPensionCredit,ourinitiativeledbytheinnovationteaminCwmTaf Morgannwg,drivenbyacollaborativeeffortamongpublichealthteams,local councils,andvariouscharityandorganisations,aimedtoenhanceboth financialandhealthoutcomesforpensioners.
Theinnovationsprintidentified689patientswithrespiratoryhealthconditions, 6768instancesofoutreacheffortsthroughdirectengagement,assessedand supported1890clients,securingaconfirmedincomeincreasestotalling £1,655,551.83.Additionally,weanticipatefurtherannualincomegainsof £961,103.19frompendingapplications,highlightingthesignificantfinancial impactandenhancedsupportprovidedtothecommunityofCwmTaf Morgannwg.
Readourinnovationcasestudytolearnmore.
HealthEducation ImprovementWales
DevelopingtheNHSWalesworkforceindigitalandtechnologyskills
OneofHEIW’seightstrategicpriorities,withintheirIntegratedMediumTerm Plan(IMPT)2025-2028,istodevelopadigitallyandtechnologyready workforce–enhancingdigitalanddataskillswithintheworkforcetooptimise newcaremodels.
Worksofarhasincluded:
LaunchingaDigitalandDataStrategysettingoutthe(HEIW)approachto digitalanddatabusinessintelligenceforfiveyears(2023-2028)
ConductinganAIlandscapereviewtoevaluatethecurrentstateofArtificial Intelligence(AI)educationwithinNHSWales
Developmentofadataandanalyticsportalgivingaccesstorealtimedata andreportsforNHSstaffincludingtheintroductionofaWorkforceVacancy dashboardthatsupportsinformeddecision-making
IntroducingaDigitalCapabilityFrameworkthatsupportshealthcare professionalstoidentifyanddevelopthenecessaryskills,attitudes,and behavioursneeded,tothriveinthedigitalhealthenvironment
ThedevelopmentofHEIW’sdigitallearningplatform‘YTyDygsu’thatis availabletoanyoneworkingacrosshealthandsocialcare,housinga wealthofonlineresources.
HealthTechnologyWales
HealthTechnologyWaleswelcomesnewAppraisalPanelChair
HealthTechnologyWales(HTW)is pleasedtointroducethenewChairof theHTWAppraisalPanel,Professor KeithLloyd.
TheHTWAppraisalPanelconsiders theHTWappraisalevidencewithinthe contextofNHSandsocialcarein WalesandproducesHTWnational guidancebasedonthisevidence.
KeithLloydisaProfessorofPsychiatry atSwanseaUniversityandDirectorof itsInstituteofLifeScience.
HewasProViceChancellorfor medicine,healthandlifescienceat SwanseaUniversityandbeforethat headoftheSwanseaUniversity medicalschool.
Priortojoiningtheuniversity,hewas headofwhatisnowHealthandCare ResearchWales.
ProfessorLloydcontinuestoworkclinicallyasapsychiatristinSwansea.
