South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT), in partnership with Innovate, has won the Supporting Elective Recovery Through Digital award at the HSJ Digital Awards 2025 for the successful implementation of LOLA - a virtual assistant powered by empathetic artificial intelligence (AI) that is transforming referral screening in the Warwickshire Wheelchair Service.

Bridgit Vorster-Gibbons, Principal Occupational Therapist at SWFT, said: “We are delighted to be recognised for our work in transforming the referral process through digital innovation. LOLA has enabled us to handle growing referral volumes far more efficiently, improving patient access to the service. It’s been a true game-changer for our service, enhancing patient outcomes and strengthening our ability to meet rising demand.”

Innovate has partnered with South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) to deploy advanced voice recognition technology across its Haematology and Oncology service—marking a pivotal step in the Trust’s digital transformation journey.

With Innovate’s support, SWFT has successfully implemented Fluency Direct and Fluency Flex, two advanced solutions from the M*Modal platform. These tools are designed to streamline clinical documentation and reduce administrative overhead, enabling clinicians to dedicate more time to patient care. The solutions went live at the end of June, following a collaborative rollout.

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH), in collaboration with Innovate, has taken a major step forward in digital transformation by implementing its first Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution — streamlining the recruitment process by automating the download of applicant details from Trac.

Although the task itself is straightforward, it’s performed frequently and involves multiple steps. Automating this repetitive process frees up HR administrators to focus on more strategic, value-adding work. This marks a significant milestone for GEH, representing its first RPA deployment and reinforcing the Trust’s broader commitment to digital innovation.

What if some of the most useful lessons for improving healthcare came from a car factory? That’s exactly what happened when the Innovate team visited Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) Solihull plant. The experience offered unexpected insight and inspiration, revealing practical lessons we can apply to how we work, how we lead, and how we deliver care.

Talking about the visit, Dan Milman, Chief Executive Officer of Innovate said: “We’re not trying to turn healthcare into a production line. But we are serious about learning from the best — wherever we find it. The visit to JLR showed us what’s possible when you combine smart systems with a culture that values consistency, quality, and accountability.”

We’re proud to announce the launch of our Wellbeing and Neurodiversity Champion Network.  This is an initiative that underscores our commitment to mental health, inclusion, and the power of diverse thinking.

In a world where organisations are measured not just by what they deliver but by how they look after the people who deliver it, establishing this Network marks a pivotal step in embedding wellbeing and cognitive diversity into every aspect of our work.

At Innovate, our values are more than just words—they are the foundation of how we work, collaborate, and deliver for our partners and patients. As we continue to evolve in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape, we’re proud to unveil a refreshed set of company values that reflect who we are today and where we’re heading tomorrow.

Kate Hughes, Director of People and Organisational Development, said: “Having our values shaped by our people and the qualities that are most important to them has been essential to us. The voices of our staff play a vital role in ensuring a collaborative and inclusive workplace, and it is their insights that help to shape decision-making and drive our continuous improvement”.

Proofpoint is now protecting 47 different email domains that belong to our clients, including South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, and primary care customers across South Warwickshire. Eric MacFarlane, Head of Acute and Core Technology Services, has been a vocal advocate for the implementation of Proofpoint, stating: "The deployment of Proofpoint is a testament to Innovate's unwavering commitment to cybersecurity and keeping everyone’s emails safe…”

Innovate is proud to announce the successful implementation of the Netcall project at SWFT, which has brought about a significant transformation in managing patient waiting lists. This digital solution has been instrumental in helping the Trust modernise their waiting list management and enhance operational efficiency.

Nicola Mills, General Manager Elective Delivery & Performance at SWFT, shared her experience: "The operational benefits of the Netcall Waiting List Validation application have been remarkable. Not only has it reduced the time our staff dedicate to waiting list validation, but it has also refreshed our waiting list, which was a critical priority post the COVID-19 pandemic. This tool has provided us with improved intelligence on patient needs, allowing us to plan more effectively and ensure timely treatment for those who need it…”

Avi Channa, Head of ICT Service Operations, who manages the Service Desk, commented on the change, "We are committed to providing the best possible support to our customers and the new hours reflect our dedication to being there when they need us the most. This change is a positive step towards enhancing our service delivery and ensuring that our support aligns with the operational hours and needs of both SWFT and GEH.”

Innovate is proud to announce the successful completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Advanced Cloud-Based Telephony (ACBT) project across Coventry & Warwickshire. This pioneering project has been instrumental in enhancing telephony services within Primary Care practices by transitioning to a state-of-the-art Internet Protocol (IP) technology-based, cloud-hosted solution.

iBox, a sophisticated digital dashboard, is now live in select wards in GEH, and provides clinicians with instant access to vital patient information and flow metrics. Its intuitive design and alert system allow for a seamless integration of data-driven decision-making into the daily routines of healthcare professionals.

Chris Dunne, Senior Project Manager on the iBox project, shared his reflections on the project's success: "The iBox Digital Dashboard's implementation at GEH has been a remarkable journey. The benefits it brings to our clinicians are immense, from enhancing the visibility of critical patient information to aiding in swift and accurate decision-making.