Healthy Thinking goes behind the scenes at the third annual Welsh Health Hack - a two-day innovation marathon which pairs industry experts, digital technologists and data companies with NHS staff to help solve their problems.

After the medical teams set out the challenges, the delegates form cross-functional teams and thrash out a technological or digital solution, which they then present to judges in a Dragons’ Den-style finale. The top four pitches receive investment.

Deputy Chair of Life Sciences Hub Wales, Chris Martin is the chief ‘dragon’ judging the pitches. “We’re looking to satisfy three criteria: how well does the solution meet the operational clinical need. The impact and value - no point in doing if you don't actually have any impact. And finally, deliverability. So how easily, quickly, realistically, can the solution be delivered? Because what we want to see are quick wins.”

Chris presents this episode, telling the story of the Hack from the first-morning registration through to the unveiling of the winning ideas.

We also hear about one of last year’s successful pitches - a new app which helps men and women complete vital physiotherapy exercises after breast surgery. The BAPS app, was developed by a team from Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff company Rescape Innovation Ltd, is starting to make a difference to patients’ recovery.

Donna Egbear is a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and was part of the BAPS app team: “it was really refreshing to work with people who had such a sort of can-do attitude. And it's different to anything you do within the healthcare sector.”

The Welsh Health Hack is organised by Life Sciences Hub Wales, the Bevan Commission and other partners.