The NHS in Essex has partnered with local students to develop interactive games that help the public understand the complexities of healthcare budget decisions. The initiative aims to increase community awareness of local healthcare priorities through engaging, educational gameplay.
Two standout games have emerged from this collaboration, offering players the chance to step into the shoes of NHS decision-makers:
The first simulation challenges users to balance resources between GP services and hospitals, managing staff recruitment and facility development while meeting targets to deliver high quality patient care. Players must carefully consider how their spending affects maximum capacity and patient outcomes, providing a realistic glimpse into healthcare resource management.
The second game presents players with six crucial healthcare sectors – including mental health, maternity care, and A&E services – demonstrating how funding decisions impact both individual patient experiences and nationwide healthcare outcomes. Random events, such as unexpected budget changes due to a flu outbreak, add real-world complexity to the decision-making process.
Tom Abell, Chief Executive of NHS Mid and South Essex, said: “These games offer an innovative way to help our community understand the challenges we face in allocating healthcare resources to make the biggest difference. I would like to thank all of the students involved. They have done a really fantastic job of creating engaging tools that demonstrate how funding decisions affect both individual patients and our broader healthcare system.
“We hope these tools will be part of a conversation with the wider public on priorities for the future so that we can create an NHS that works for everyone and is financially sustainable for the long term.”
Cameron Wilkinson, 14 – “This is my first time coding a project like this, and it has been a great experience doing this project. As well as showing me the challenges of coding, I found out facts about the NHS I would not have known otherwise. After looking at my code and thinking about what the NHS actually go through, I realised how much effort is put into allocating spend and how much it costs to run the NHS. This has been both a fun and educational project and I am happy that I did it.”
Bliss Ogodi, 16 – “The project helped me understand how much the NHS has to consider when it spends money, all the different factors that affect their decision making.”
Key Features of the Games:
- Interactive budget allocation across multiple healthcare sectors
- Real-time feedback on healthcare outcomes
- Accessible design for all users
- Educational insights into NHS resource management
- Realistic scenarios based on current healthcare challenges
Mr Nzemeke, Head of Computer Science, Southend High School for Boys said: “The students have really enjoyed being part of this project. It that has provided our students with a valuable opportunity to apply their technical skills to real-world challenges in the NHS. They’ve had to master creating engaging interactive designs while gaining insights into real life local healthcare economics.”
It is hoped the games will be used as part of a wider community engagement initiative to help inform local healthcare priorities and improve public understanding of NHS resource allocation.