The Welsh Health Hack returned for the fourth time this January, in Anglesey north Wales. The event, hosted by event partners M-SParc, was attended by over 100 people across industry, academia and the NHS.

What is the Welsh Health Hack?

This revolutionary marathon style event encourages colleagues (challengers) across health and social care to present key challenges they are facing within their organisation or across their region. Industry experts and academics are invited along to help work up solutions to those challenges, in a safe, supportive and creative environment.

How the hack works

Our challengers present their challenges to the wider group and buddy up into suitable teams for a 24-hour period on development. Teams at our event in January included industry partners from Fujitsu and InHealthcare, academics from Bangor University and staff from across the NHS in Wales and beyond.

24 hours later the teams reconvened, and potential projects (solutions) were pitched in a ‘Dragons Den’ style pitch.

Judges on this occasion included representatives from the event partners; Bevan Commission, Life Sciences Hub Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Digital Communities Wales.

Winners

A number of pitches were successful on the day, and the projects that received funding were:

• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, CAHMS and Fujitsu UK – to develop an app to help young people with their mental health
• Bangor University, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Dr Bryan Griffiths – ‘NEWS Bunny’ to help hospital patients with isolation
• Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Bangor University – for the development of a ‘Digital Bike’

Life Sciences Hub Wales

Life Sciences Hub Wales aims to drive transformational systematic change within the health and care sectors to create a better future for the people of Wales.

We know that health and economic wellbeing go hand-in-hand. Our role is to inspire innovation and collaboration between industry, health and social care, and research organisations to make a positive difference to people and families across the nation.

We are a catalyst for change. We work with NHS Wales to understand issues and identify how innovation can help deliver better care. We support businesses to create health and care solutions.

We create connections. We enable people and organisations to work with us in partnership and create networking and matchmaking opportunities for innovators.

To find out more, visit: lshubwales.com