Cheshire and Merseyside NHS digital transformation on show at HSJ Digital Awards 2026

Tuesday, 26 May 2026

NHS organisations and partners across Cheshire and Merseyside have been recognised nationally for their outstanding work to improve patient care through digital innovation at the HSJ Digital Awards 2026.

The awards celebrate the NHS’s most ground-breaking digital projects, services, and teams that are improving patient experience, driving innovation, and boosting productivity.

Among the successes for Cheshire and Merseyside this year was Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Medicines Management Team, which won the Improving Medicines and Pharmacy through Digital category. The team was recognised for its data-driven medicines optimisation and prioritisation in mental health and community services, which has improved medicines safety, reduced expenditure, and enhanced access to actionable insights.

The National Digital Skills Development Network, supported by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, took home the Digital Literacy, Education and Upskilling Award for its Induction programme for Clinicians New to Digital. The training programme, initially launched in the North West, equips healthcare professionals with essential digital skills to help build confidence and foster a digital learning culture across the NHS.

Elsewhere, Warrington Together – a partnership between Warrington Borough Council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside – was highly commended in the Reducing Health Inequalities through Digital category. The partnership was recognised for Living Well Warrington, a health and wellbeing initiative that connects local residents to NHS services, council support, and voluntary groups.

Meanwhile, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was highly commended in the Empowering Patients through Digital category for its Digitally Supported Arthroplasty Service. The initiative has supported thousands of patients undergoing elective hip or knee replacements by ensuring they receive consistent, high-quality information and support throughout their surgical journey.

In total, NHS organisations in Cheshire and Merseyside received 17 nominations across 14 categories, showcasing how the region is leading the way in driving the NHS through its most ambitious digital transformation yet as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.

The full list of finalists from the region was as follows:

Driving Prevention and Early Intervention through Digital

Warrington Together (Warrington Borough Council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside) - Living Well Warrington

Unlocking Productivity and Efficiency with Digital

Brownlow Health Group Practice - Brownlow Health Digital Access

Empowering patients through digital

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Wirral University Teaching Hospital - Empowering Orthopaedic Patients Using a Digitally Supported Arthroplasty Service

Digital Clinical Safety Award

Mersey Care - Supportive Electronic Observations (eObs)
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - Enhancing Prioritisation, Safety and Efficiency Through Interactive Medicines Management Hub and Ward Dashboards

Reducing Health Inequalities through Digital

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Warrington Together (Warrington Borough Council and NHS Cheshire and Merseyside) - Living Well Warrington

Improving Primary Care through Digital

Brownlow Health Group Practice - Brownlow Health Digital Access

Improving Back-Office Efficiencies through Digital

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - MWL Systemwide Benefits from Automation
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - Transforming Homecare Prescriptions Through AI Automation

Improving Medicines and Pharmacy through Digital

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - Transforming Homecare Prescriptions Through AI Automation
WINNER: Mersey Care - Data-driven medicines optimisation and prioritisation in mental health and community services

Improving Mental Health through Digital

Mersey Care - Supportive Electronic Observations (eObs)

Enhancing Workforce Engagement and Productivity through Digital

Alder Hey Children’s - Productivity Benefits- Ambient Voice Technology

Digital Literacy, Education and Upskilling Award

WINNER: National Digital Skills Development Network (supported by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside) - Induction programme for Clinicians New to Digital

Optimising Clinical Pathways through Digital

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals - Optimising the Musculoskeletal Self-Referral Pathway Using Digital Triage
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and University of Liverpool - Establishing Electronic Patient Recorded Outcome Measures as a Remote Monitoring tool in Palliative Care