On the record
“It was amazing!” says IAPT digital lead and CBT therapist Natasha Browne of her team’s win. “After learning that there were nearly 400 nominations, it was really nice to just be nominated, but to win is fantastic.”
The digital team of eight works with two of Oxford Health’s services that provide improved access the psychological therapies (IAPT): TalkingSpace Plus in Oxfordshire and Health Minds in Buckinghamshire, exploring how we can use digital technology to help patients.
“It’s very exciting to see how we can offer more opportunities for patients to engage with their treatment and in more convenient ways,” says Natasha.
Innovations the team has been involved in include Sharon, a secure online community for people who have already engaged with the trust’s services; digital consultations and use of virtual reality in treatment of fear of heights.
“We have several projects going on but the main drive is to keep up to date with technology. We do so much digitally; we shop digitally, we communicate digitally.
Our team is looking into how we can incorporate digital into NHS services,” says Natasha.
“It can make it more convenient to attend appointments, for instance for people who work full time, and it gives more choice for access, for instance for people with long term health conditions. Of course, it’s great for our people, too. It’s new and exciting and we are all learning new skills.”