NHS Hywel Dda | Making Pain Management Learning More Accessible

The Challenge

Hywel Dda needed a new way to support people living with persistent pain, many of whom face challenges with mobility, concentration, travel and long waiting times for services. Traditional, in-person programmes alone were no longer meeting patient needs, particularly across rural areas of Wales where access can be limited.

The solution needed to be inclusive, dual-language (Welsh-first), clinically robust and flexible — supporting digital delivery, face-to-face sessions, or a combination of both — while reducing pressure on clinical services.

Our Thinking & Solution

We began by mapping the existing pain management patient pathway to identify where a digital intervention could deliver the greatest benefit. This insight shaped the design of a patient-centred programme focused on usability, accessibility and realistic engagementfor people living with persistent pain.

The programme was built as a 10-module digital course, delivered in short, manageable sections to support concentration and reduce cognitive load. We developed a custom, cost-effective Learning Management System using Moodle (for the pilot), avoiding the need for expensive subscription platforms.

Content was designed to be engaging and built to combine video exercises, interactive elements, audio relaxation tracks, along with clear visuals and audio guidance. Recognising the realities of rural Wales, all materials can be downloaded for offline use, if requested.

Language was central to the design. The programme was developed Welsh-first, with equal parity for English, and structured so it can be expanded easily into other languages in the future. Alongside the digital modules, we created downloadable resources to support continued learning beyond the platform.

The ten-module programme was developed Welsh-first, with English-language parity. The custom LMS was built on Moodle, with downloadable resources supporting use offline.

Hwyel Dda is encaourages open conversation with other health boards to spread the programme across Wales.

The Impact

The PMP represents a significant shift inhow pain management support is delivered within Hywel Dda, marking a newapproach to digital, patient-centred care. The programme is currently beingdelivered alongside clinical services and is undergoing structured patienttesting as part of a wider research initiative.

Its success has led to the format beingadopted across other therapy areas within the Health Board, with the originalcourse structure also influencing similar programmes in other NHS healthboards. Once fully deployed, it will be the first bilingual digital painmanagement programme of its kind in Wales, setting a new standard foraccessible, flexible and scalable NHS education.

“This looks and sounds fantastic. A piece of work that will make a difference and something we can all be proud of. Diolchynfawr!”