Funded by the NHSE Health and Growth Accelerator programme, the project will see Wellmind Health's digital pain management programme, Pathway though Pain, integrated into Novus Health's Physio Wakefield chronic pain service to support individuals who are at risk of losing employment or struggling to thrive.
A partnership between Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) platform Wellmind Health and community health provider Novus Health has been awarded £40k to support patients with chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in Wakefield who are at risk of losing employment or feel pain is a barrier to rejoining work. The project sees Wellmind Health's Pathway through Pain programme provide a clinical-grade digital pathway alongside the clinician-led pathway at Novus Health's Physio Wakefield MSK service and will enable it to treat more patients.
The project won funding from the NHSE-funded Health and Growth Accelerator programme hosted by West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) which aims to support individuals who are in work but at risk of losing employment or struggling to thrive. The partnership project is part of Healthy Working Life, a joint programme of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and NHS West Yorkshire ICB, delivering the Mayor's vision for West Yorkshire to have the healthiest residents and workforce in England by 2040, and the aims of the government's 'Get Britian Working' White Paper.
"MSK pain is a leading cause of economic inactivity in West Yorkshire. This project combines an innovative, evidence-based digital treatment with Physio Wakefield's effective community-based approach to provide targeted, early intervention for employment support."
Physio Wakefield and Wellmind Health have worked together to design bespoke triage pathways and to enhance data collection to evaluate the project's impact and effectiveness. Wellmind Health's proprietary platform provides monitoring of patient engagement, satisfaction, and health outcomes in real time. The project will see additional data points added related to work readiness and ability in relation to pain.
"We are thrilled to be working with Novus Health to support patients in Wakefield to improve both their pain management and employment prospects. This is not just a partnership with an exceptional community-based service. It demonstrates the power of co-operation when the digital health industry, local providers, ICBs and local government come together to tackle connected issues of health and employment."
"We see every day the wider challenges of MSK conditions in our community. Pathway through Pain was selected as a proven digital support pathway that also adds an enhanced level of data collection that will be invaluable in measuring impact. This project aligns with the holistic nature of our service and we look forward to supporting more patients while helping them remain in work or to return to employment."
About Wellmind Health
Wellmind Health?has pioneered?Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)?for over a decade. The company's clinical-grade,?evidence-based programs?have supported over 150,000 people to better manage their mental health, pain management and addiction recovery. Their unique scalable enterprise platform provides clinicians and commissioners with real-time access to patient and clinical data through a secure management portal. The Wellmind Workplace service addresses the unmet needs of employees, job seekers and employers, supporting people struggling with mental health and chronic pain to enter the workforce or stay in work and thrive. Wellmind Health is committed to delivering high-quality,?data-driven digital interventions?that create a lasting impact on individuals, healthcare services, companies, and society.
About Novus Health
Novus Health is an independent healthcare organisation established in 2007 by a consortium of GP practices across Wakefield and the Five Towns. Guided by a board of local GPs and practice managers, it delivers high-quality, accessible NHS services in innovative ways, improving care, reducing waiting times and simplifying access for patients. Serving NHS patients across Wakefield and Kirklees, Novus Health provides physiotherapy for musculoskeletal pain, dermatology care, day surgery for conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and adult hearing services with digital hearing aids. Through collaboration with patients, families and healthcare partners, Novus Health delivers care that puts people first.
