We’re delighted to present our finalists for the category of “Best solution for community care”.
NEC Software Solutions x United Hospitals Dorset: The positive impact of the Hospital Eye Service (HES) recall initiative on patient care
Overview: United Hospitals Dorset partnered with NEC Software Solutions to tackle long waiting times in diabetic eye screening. Through a recall initiative, patient data was validated, low-risk patients were discharged to community care, and urgent cases were prioritised. Waiting times fell from 22 months to 12 weeks.
What happened? Regular meetings established a shared understanding of the problem. The first step was a comprehensive audit of the hospital eye service waiting list. Every patient was reviewed by DDESP and categorised into one of three pathways: routine digital screening for those safe to remain under community monitoring; digital surveillance for patients needing closer review but not hospital care; and urgent hospital follow-up. Patients were called twice to schedule appointments and explain the collaboration between services. If they did not attend or cancelled, further attempts were made before issuing a closed appointment letter. 73 percent of patients discharged to DDESP were retained within community screening pathways, waiting times for DR patients fell from 22 months to 12–13 weeks, and 194 hospital slots and 97 hours of clinical capacity were released in seven months. Staff reported improved efficiency and reduced administrative burden. Patients benefited from timely screening and treatment, reducing anxiety and preventing disease progression.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust: The CLEO Project: Transforming community care at Alder Hey with a digital-first and patient centred approach
Overview: The CLEO Project represents a transformative step in Alder Hey’s journey towards a fully digital medicines management ecosystem in the community and is currently rolled out across community services, community paediatrics and ADHD.
What happened? The team worked with CLEO Systems to implement its CLEO EPS solution. The project aimed to digitise FP10 prescription workflows for outpatient medicines, enabling secure, real-time transmission of prescriptions to community pharmacies. This needed to integrate with existing EPR systems and provide audit trails and clinical decision support to enhance safety. Digital exclusion was a key risk identified early. Mitigation strategies included universal access via NHS Smartcard authentication for all clinicians, comprehensive training and support across departments and maintaining patient choice for pharmacy selection. CLEO EPS currently has approximately 90 users onboarded, and 4,000 scripts have been issued in 2.5 months. Early data indicates significant reductions in prescription turnaround and improved accuracy. Financially, courier costs have been eliminated, delivering immediate savings. Clinicians report reduced administrative burden and improved confidence in prescription accuracy. Pharmacy teams highlight real-time visibility and streamlined communication.
NEC Software Solutions x Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust: Newborn hearing healthcare inequality improvement
Overview: Surrey and Sussex Healthcare partnered with NEC Software Solutions to tackle health inequalities in newborn hearing screening for migrant families. By adapting protocols, auditing data, and training staff on cultural competence, the project achieved 95 percent screening coverage and zero missed appointments.
What happened? The team set clear objectives to increase screening of refugee babies within national timeframes, reduce “Was Not Brought” (WNB) rates, improve staff confidence and cultural competence. NEC conducted internal audits to identify patterns in WNB cases. Findings revealed that families in temporary hotel accommodation and those requiring translators were most at risk of missing appointments. Protocol Adaptation Screening was completed before discharge, eliminating the need for outpatient re-booking. Cultural Competence Training Workshops educated screeners on migrant experiences. Translator needs were recorded at screening completion. Midwifery teams caring for hotel-based families coordinated with screeners to plan screening effectively. Results included zero WNB appointments for refugee babies over five years, 95 percent+ screening coverage, improved staff confidence, with screeners reporting greater understanding of cultural barriers, and enhanced patient experience. The approach is now embedded into routine practice at SASH.
Miguel Corporate Services Pte Ltd: MATION – Everyday preventive care and biofeedback in every home
Overview: MATION turns WhatsApp and Telegram into a daily preventive care companion, using HRV biofeedback and micro-habits to help families of seniors, caregivers to regulate stress, sleep and recovery. It reduces avoidable utilisation while building a biofeedback-literate population and future preventive workforce.
What happened? MATION is a digital health coach that runs entirely through WhatsApp and Telegram — no app store, passwords or new interfaces for digitally hesitant users. Core components include daily HRV biofeedback using validated sensors (Optimal HRV/Kubios); plain-language interpretation; micro-interventions such as five-minute resonance breathing; and community-based support. A typical participant takes a 60-second HRV reading using a low-cost sensor and receives a simple narrative, before being guided through one or two short actions like a specific breathing cadence before work. They then repeat a brief HRV reading later in the day to observe physiological shift. A pilot HRV and behaviour-change programme (15 adults, aged 30–65) over eight weeks observed an 18 percent mean increase in HRV, a 22 percent reduction in perceived stress scores, and a 35 percent reduction in sleep latency. Participants reported greater morning energy, fewer “crash” afternoons, reduced emotional overwhelm and less frequent need for ad-hoc consultations for functional symptoms.
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Altera Digital Health: Transforming community care through digital innovation at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
Overview: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust rolled out Altera Digital Health’s Sunrise EPR to its community services and outpatient departments, revolutionising care beyond the hospital. This enabled seamless integration of patient records across acute and community settings, enhancing care coordination, safety, and efficiency.
What happened? The trust extended their use of Altera Digital Health’s Sunrise EPR to support care coordination and communication across community and outpatient services. The implementation focused on aligning new workflows with complex requirements and medication policies to ensure full compliance. The go-live in June 2025 has been a significant milestone for Bolton’s digital strategy. Within the first month, 17,614 pathology and radiology requests were processed, with early feedback from users noting the system’s ease of use and improvements in workflows and patient care. Results to date include improved care coordination, with seamless integration of patient records across acute and community settings; enhanced patient safety through real-time access to up-to-date patient information; increased efficiency with streamlined workflows and reduced administrative burdens; and transformed care delivery through empowered community teams with real-time information, enabling faster, safer, and more joined-up care.
NEC Software Solutions x West Knowsley PCN and Primary Care Knowsley GP Federation: Addressing barriers in diabetic eye screening for learning disability populations in Central Mersey
Overview: NEC Software Solutions partnered with NHS teams to transform diabetic eye screening for people with learning disabilities in Central Mersey. Through data-driven identification, tailored adjustments, and community engagement, screening uptake rose from 56.5 to 70 percent in under two years.
What happened? The team partnered with West Knowsley PCN and Primary Care Knowsley GP Federation, and NHS Cheshire & Merseyside’s Data Into Action programme to identify service users with learning disabilities. Within six months, the number of tagged records rose from 18 to 348. Next, protocols were redesigned. Coding for learning disability status was introduced in OptoMize software, and a standard operating procedure was developed for tagging and follow-up. Reasonable adjustments were introduced across clinics. Picture charts replaced letter-based tests for those unable to recognise letters. Appointment times were extended for patients who needed extra support, and slit-lamp examinations were offered for those requiring specialist assessment. Easy-read materials and tailored communication were provided for carers. Staff training was a key part of the process. The team worked with local organisations and carers’ networks, sharing educational content and building trust. Screening uptake increased steadily: 56.5 percent in 2023, 61 percent in 2024, and 70 percent by mid-2025.
