Creating clinical capacity is a critical priority for the NHS. Isla Health has published a practical guide for NHS leaders and clinical teams. The paper details how digital pathways can streamline waiting list validation, scale remote monitoring, and improve efficiency. Read the full brochure here >
Based on real-world examples from NHS trusts that have introduced digital pathways, this practical guide explores how services are:
- Reclaiming clinical time: Freeing up hours lost to admin and follow-up tasks. Some trusts have saved over 116,000 hours by avoiding unnecessary face-to-face appointments.
- Accelerating patient flow: Enabling earlier triage and better caseload visibility, reducing waitlists by up to 87 percent and increasing patient throughput by nearly 400 percent.
- Improving financial sustainability: Achieving an average ROI of 300–400 percent, with all implementations to date generating a positive financial impact.
- Empowering clinical teams: Providing real-time, longitudinal patient data and seamless MDT collaboration, enhancing decisions and reducing burnout.
- Delivering better patient experience and outcomes: Improving proactive care, reducing post-op visits by up to 50 percent, and consistently achieving a 92 percent patient satisfaction score.
- Supporting sustainability goals: Reducing travel and emissions, with over 3.6 million miles avoided and 672 tonnes of CO₂ saved.
To see more real-world examples of how to create clinical capacity, read the full guide here >
Co-developed with NHS teams, Isla’s Digital Pathway Platform (DPP) is a solution designed to help clinical services make the most of their existing resources. It functions by turning repetitive administrative and clinical tasks into intelligent, automated workflows.
Currently in use at over 30 healthcare organisations in the UK and globally, the platform has demonstrated an ability to increase clinical capacity. For example, some pathways have recorded a nearly 400 percent increase in patient throughput and a 36 percent reduction in unnecessary face-to-face visits. This efficiency gain allows clinicians to focus more of their time on complex patient conversations and decision-making. Crucially, Isla has also been well-received by patients, achieving a 92 percent recommendation rate.
Wider trend: Digital pathways and virtual care
Pete Hansell, CEO and co-founder of Isla Health, joined a HTN panel of leading experts in surgical site infection (SSI) care for an insightful discussion on how digital innovation is reshaping clinical practice and improving patient outcomes earlier this year. The session shared practical advice on reducing SSIs with digital pathways, ensuring effective surveillance, how a digital approach to surgical site safety can reduce infection risk, and the role of automation in infection control.
Recently, for HTN Now, we welcomed a group of experts for a discussion on how digital pathways are transforming community care delivery and expanding workforce capacity. Panellists included Peter Cumpstone, head of digital clinical systems, safety, and transformation at Sirona care & health; Sara Lowe, CHS business and transformation clinical team lead at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust; and Gabi Cohen, director of delivery at Isla Health. Our panel shared real-world projects, including waitlist validation pathways, self-managed care models, and community-based digital practices. They also highlighted practical insights into how technology is being used to streamline workflows, reduce pressure on staff, and improve patient outcomes. Watch the session back here.
Last week, for HTN Now we brought together four clinical safety leaders to answer a critical question: how do we use digital pathways to build safer care? Drawing on their direct experience, the panel shared key principles for ensuring technology genuinely supports both clinicians and patients. Our expert panel included: Corrina Hulkes, Associate CNIO, Health System Support Limited, Victoria Mustafa, Regional Maternity Quality, Safety & Digital Lead, NHS England, Ruth North, Clinical Safety Officer, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Pete Hansell, CEO and Co-founder, Isla Health. Watch the replay here.
NHS innovation is making a difference on a global scale
Earlier in the year, The Rotunda Hospital, a leading maternity hospital based in Dublin, partnered with Isla Health to enhance patient engagement and deliver more personalised care. The partnership will introduce digital patient pathways to transform care across its gynaecology, obstetrics, and neonatal services.
Across the globe, in Trinidad and Tobago, a technology co-created with NHS clinicians has eliminated surgical site infection readmissions and saved clinical teams 30 minutes per patient, a true breakthrough in patient safety. See how they achieved it here.
