The LEAP Digital Health Hub is a partnership of the South West's leading Universities, more than 20 supporting companies nationally, many NHS Trusts & Health Boards, 4 social care organisations, the region's Local Authorities, the West of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), the award-winning business incubator SETsquared and Health Data Research UK (HDRUK). The 50+ partners that shaped this bid ranged from the research director for a provider of residential care homes, to a chief clinical information officer working in an intensive care unit; from the founder of a femtech startup to the head of the healthcare analytics team for a multinational consulting firm. In workshops through June and July 2022 they told us that Digital Health is as much about design and user experience as health data analysis; it is motivated by patient benefit but must also consider viable business models for industry. All Hub partners will have access to dedicated physical office space in central Bristol alongside the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Digital Health and Care. There, they will train, network and research together across disciplines and sectors. They will engage with partners across the UK- and beyond. Recognising that UK breakthroughs in Digital Health may be equally (or more) impactful abroad, the Hub's new "Global Digital Health Network" links the Hub to Digital Health expertise from the US, China, India, Nigeria and Australia (sections B1.2, B5). The Hub's unique Skills and Knowledge Programme is designed to address the professional training needs of industry, health and social care providers and academia within the two Themes of Transforming Health & Care Beyond the Hospital and Optimising Disease Prediction, Diagnosis & Intervention. This is proposed to be the world's largest Digital Health taught programme. The Hub's Fellowship programme will comprise 5 different schemes to develop future leaders, within not only academia, industry and the health/care sector, but also within the community - as patients or informal carers. The Hub's Research programme focusses on pre-competitive research within the Hub's two thematic areas of Transforming Health and Care Beyond the Hospital and Optimising Disease Prediction, Diagnosis and Intervention. The Hub will add value by surfacing health priorities from its partner health and social care organisations, working with the West of England AHSN and also with Hub members such as Chief Nursing Information Officers, with charities, social care providers, patient and community groups.

Many people experience physical disabilities throughout their life, requiring advice and management from clinicians such as physiotherapists. Usually a hands-on detailed movement assessment is taken to help formulate a plan to deal with each individual's needs. For most this face-to-face approach has not been possible during the Covid crisis, and this is likely to continue for some time with social distancing, particularly in older people and those with health issues. In response to the crisis clinicians have found new ways of working. They have used telephone & web-based consultations (known as telerehabilitation) to help people continue to rehabilitate at home. This approach, however, has many challenges when assessing people with movement disabilities, such as those experienced by people recovering from Covid-19, with long term neurological conditions, arthritis or diabetes. For example there are risks associated with assessing balance and mobility in frail older persons at risk of falls. Yet this information is essential to create a plan to ensure recovery occurs as quickly and fully as possible. Unfortunately relevant guidance and training for NHS/Social care staff about this is extremely limited, relying mainly on experience gained on the job. No specific guidance is in place to ensure telerehabilitation is delivered effectively and equitably for people with physical disabilities. We will work closely with NHS/Social care staff to quickly develop an assessment toolkit and training to provide them with practical guidance to increase their skills and confidence. This is important now & for the future.