West Wakefield is a vanguard for the new ‘Multispecialty Community Provider’ model, which fits in well with the work they have already been doing to improve access to services in Wakefield. They are working to involve a wider range of specialties in the care they provide to patients including nurses, therapists, and other community-based professionals. They are also increasing access for patients using digital technologies, as well as a Health Pod which is regularly out and about in different locations around Wakefield. They are aiming to provide a wider range of care for patients, and to make it more convenient for them to access the care they need.
You can find out more about the work of this Vanguard in this great video, they really are making a difference already which is great to see.
They have been working with school children to promote good oral health. Over two hundred year six students from 7 local primary schools took part in West Wakefield Health and Wellbeing’s Schools App Challenge since September 2015. The final six teams of students presented their ideas to a panel of ‘Dragon’s Den’ style judges and the team from Horbury Bridge Academy were named overall winners, with their app ‘Healthy Island’; an interactive game app aimed at 5-12 year olds with three ‘cities’ focused on healthy eating, exercise and good oral health and incorporating mini-games and quizzes. The app is available from here to download for free on iOS, Android and Windows (coming soon) at http://dragonapp.me
The winners will not only see their winning app developed and launched by West Wakefield Health & Wellbeing but they will get to spend a behind-the-scenes exclusive day at Microsoft’s Rare Studios learning how the games of tomorrow are made. You can read more about the challenge here http://www.westwakefieldhealthandwellbeing.nhs.uk/news/schools-app-challenge-20-local-children-win-chance-to-design-health-apps-of-the-future/?utm_content=buffer1845f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
The West Wakefield Health and Wellbeing Vanguard website http://www.westwakefieldhealthandwellbeing.nhs.uk/information/about-west-wakefield/ is well worth a browse.