Green Gown Awards 2020 - University of Wales Trinity St David - Finalist

The Surgical Journey: Transforming patient outcomes 

Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC) from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), collaborated with Concentric Health, a start-up which provides hospitals with digital consent and decision-making platforms for surgery.  

Together, we have developed a Surgical Journey for patients, an online resource to help them reflect and prepare for surgery. We used co-creation techniques, working with patients and clinicians throughout the project. We learned that patients struggle to have helpful conversations with clinicians, which means they are not making the right decisions and having their perspectives heard – which ultimately means they are not prepared for the impact of the surgery on their lives.  

We developed a new platform for hospitals to provide patients with resources, information, and support. The platform introduces a more sustainable approach to clinical consultations, by cutting down on paper usage and travel, but also empowers patients from all walks of life to take charge of their health.  

Top 3 learnings:

1. Listen to your users! 
2. Keep your mind open for the research to take you in new directions.  
3. Take your time and make sure everyone’s voice is heard during co-creation.