The Wellness Interactive Support Hub W:ISH
W:ISH
The Wellness Interactive Support Hub (W:ISH) is an online digital portal developed to support the delivery of Neighbourhood Health as part of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP). The system is designed to use the NHS Number as the unique identifier and NHS data to surround people with personalised information, education, technologies and services (online and local) that enable them to take more control of their health and wellbeing.
W:ISH delivers a digitally-enabled cross-sector collaborative approach to population health and self-management, disease prevention, healthy ageing, physical activity and lifestyle medicine provided by Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and partners from across the VCFSE, education, life sciences, health-tech and physical activity sectors.
The Goal for W:ISH
The goal is to positively impact the health and wellbeing of local populations. By using data from NHS clinical systems to direct services and technologies to the right people, we ensure they are automatically offered appropriate and timely support without the need for referral or for clinicians to act as gatekeepers.
W:ISH has a built-in online classroom that delivers professionally produced, high quality educational programmes designed to drive user-activation and encourage behaviour change, physical activity and improved lifestyle, including diet. Our focus is on self-management, risk reduction, lifestyle medicine and disease prevention, particularly as it relates to prevention of multimorbidity and hospitalisation.
The Neighbourhood Approach
W:ISH is being developed in partnership with Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB and is being deployed across the four localities (Neighbourhoods) in South West Hertfordshire, two of which (Dacorum and Hertsmere) are combined as a first-wave Neighbourhood in the NNHIP. Ultimately W:ISH will be integrated with the NHS App and be accessible to every person in England.
Our approach is built around the Core20PLUS5 model where we work with Integrated Neighbourhood Teams to target key areas of health inequalities with a particular focus on the most deprived 20% of the population as identified by the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
Stay Fit & Active
In addition, W:ISH has an online fitness centre with over 1700 clinically-validated exercise classes over 600 hours to support long-term conditions, mental health and wellbeing.
These online classes are available on demand, any time and cover:
> Chronic disease & diabetes
> Weight management
> Balance & falls prevention
> Rehab and reconditioning
> Bed & chair routines
> Memory
> Workplace
> Move 150 minutes a week
> Menopause
“It is clear that we need to promote and support self-care directly and not rely on primary care teams and NHS rehabilitation services to be the sole provider of knowledge and support.”
Professor Sir Muir Gray, Public Health Consultant and former NHS Chief Knowledge Officer.
