We’re delighted to present our finalists for the category of “Best use of data”.
North Bristol NHS Trust: Tackling inequality through digital early detection of HCC: A cross-trust surveillance platform
Overview: A cross-trust innovation aligned with NHSE’s early cancer detection, replacing spreadsheets with an automated hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance platform. By proactively identifying high-risk non-attending patients, this tackles inequality, reduces DNAs linked to harm, and improves early diagnosis.
What happened? The project replaced the legacy spreadsheet with a bespoke, in-house Digital HCC Surveillance and Early Detection Platform built using Power BI. Co-produced by hepatology clinicians and digital transformation teams across NBT and UHBW, the platform provides a live, automated registry updated weekly. Implementation began in early 2025 using a phased, clinically governed approach to avoid disruption to care. By the end of 2025, all eligible patients across both trusts will be captured within a single digital surveillance system. Automated weekly updates eliminate spreadsheet risk and ensure no patient is silently lost. Specialist nurses have reclaimed an estimated 10–12 hours per week previously spent on manual data management, redirecting time to patient outreach and support for those at highest risk. Built entirely in-house, the platform avoids commercial licensing costs and can rapidly adapt to changing NHS requirements. It is already being explored for use in other long-term condition pathways, including renal, cardiology, and diabetes services.
CareScan: University Hospital of Derby and Burton NHS FT – Making dialysis safer and smarter: visibility and value through data
Overview: Managing 48,000 dialysis treatments and 600,000 consumables annually, UHDB’s renal team turned a high-risk, paper-heavy process into a data-driven model of safety and efficiency. Their pilot of point-of-care scanning tool, CareScan, digitised workflows, automated expiry checks, and strengthened traceability.
What happened? UHDB introduced CareScan as a pilot in the Lichfield Haemodialysis unit. The team learned new workflows, trained colleagues, and embedded scanning into every dialysis session. Each scan generates real-time data and alerts that transform care. Expiry checks happen automatically, infection control risks are flagged instantly, and complete digital records replace boxes of paper. Nurses spend seconds scanning instead of minutes writing, freeing time for patient care. The team can now track exactly what products a patient has used, where they’ve been dialysed, and on which machine, with instant reporting that turns data into actionable insights. From the pilot, UHDB has gained real-time visibility of consumable usage and expiry status, improved infection control, and early financial insights to inform smarter procurement decisions. The ambition is to scale across UHDB, with projections showing 900 clinical hours saved annually by eliminating manual checks, recall analysis cut from three weeks to 17 minutes, and £1.4m spend visibility for precise patient-level costing and smarter procurement.
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB: SISU Health X NHS SNEE ICB: Using PHM data to identify and act on undiagnosed hypertension
Overview: Since May 2024, SISU Health Stations have supported SNEE ICB to deliver accessible, data-driven community blood pressure checks. Using PHM insights, the programme identified high levels of undiagnosed and unmanaged hypertension and prompted timely action to reduce cardiovascular risk and health inequalities.
What happened? SISU Health Stations provide an opportunistic, self-service health check that can be completed in approximately four minutes without the need for an appointment or clinical supervision. Users receive immediate feedback on blood pressure, BMI and other cardiovascular risk indicators, alongside tailored education and clear signposting on next steps, including GP follow-up where appropriate. The programme has delivered 13,886 health checks across 19 community locations. 20.3 percent of participants recorded high blood pressure, 3,784 health checks triggered a GP call-to-action for high blood pressure and/or very high BMI, 69.5 percent of participants were overweight or obese, and 14.8 percent of participants were identified as current smokers, enabling targeted lifestyle signposting. At system level, aggregated insights have informed conversations across primary care, public health and community partners about where unmet need exists. Repeat-user analysis shows early signs of positive behaviour change including a 27.2 percent reduction in high blood pressure prevalence.
SARD JV Limited: Optimising the medical workforce at Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust with SARD
Overview: SARD supported Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to optimise its medical workforce by delivering 285 completed job plans and demand analysis across 18 specialties. The programme provided medical workforce visibility, and advanced the trust from Level 0 to Level 3 NHS England attainment.
What happened? The programme began with a diagnostic phase in which SARD worked closely with the trust to assess processes and review the job planning policy. SARD deployed its integrated Medical Job Planning and Consult Demand & Capacity Modelling systems, replacing the trust’s legacy platform. The system enabled consultants and signatories to create, review and approve plans electronically with real-time visibility of progress at team and organisational levels. SARD provided direct support to over 70 per cent of the medical workforce. Central to the programme was the capacity and demand analysis across 18 specialties. Using data from the completed job plans, SARD analysed how medical time was distributed across clinical care, supporting professional activities and on-call work. Findings enabled the trust to see where capacity surpluses or shortfalls existed. In anaesthesia, clinical care capacity exceeded demand by 31 PAs per week, equivalent to four full-time consultants. Built-in system tracking identified clinicians yet to start or submit plans, allowing targeted follow-up and ensuring full completion.
