Swansea Bay University Health Board

Digital Communities Wales has worked extensively with health boards across Wales to promote the benefits of digital technology for both patients and staff. One example of this is the use of digital tools to support patients at Swansea Bay University Health Board‘s (SBUHB) Caswell Clinic—a medium-secure forensic mental health unit for men and women.

Occupational Therapy staff at SBUHB have been supported by Digital Communities Wales through both training and equipment loans, enabling them to use digital technology with patients to set up email accounts, access relaxation apps, and explore the world through virtual reality. Some patients have begun studying Open University courses online, while others have learned how to use online banking—offering them a sense of independence and control in their lives.

Russell Workman, Digital Inclusion Adviser at Digital Communities Wales, commented: “It is thrilling to see how digital can enhance people’s lives and wellbeing in so many ways. Swansea Bay UHB’s Occupational Therapy service has worked in partnership with Digital Communities Wales for a number of years, and its staff proactively seek to utilise digital for the benefit of patients. This is a great example of what can be achieved through creative collaboration.”