NHS organisations and partners from Cheshire and Merseyside won seven out of 10 categories at the 2025 North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards.
Hosted by Health Innovation North West Coast and Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC NWC), the awards recognise the best innovators and researchers in health and care across the region and attracted more than 100 entries this year.
The ceremony took place on Thursday 10 April at The Royal College of Physicians in Liverpool, and was hosted by BBC TV North West and Breakfast presenter Roger Johnson.
Special guest on the night Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director at NHS England, highlighted NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s use of AI to improve outcomes for patients in his keynote speech.
He said:
“Investing in data, digital and technology helps to improve efficiency, quality and experience of care in a personalised, preventative health system.
“As an example, Health Innovation North West Coast has supported the trial of a C2-Ai risk-stratification system at three trusts in Cheshire and Merseyside.”
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s technology partner C2-Ai would go on to win the Industry Collaboration – Secondary Care category for its AI-targeted approach to identifying patients with an increased risk for post-operative complications, helping to improve their outcomes and reduce emergency hospital admissions.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside would feature in the ceremony again, this time alongside the Cheshire and Merseyside Greener Practice Network, by winning the 2025 Sustainability Award, for driving improvements in sustainability through a number of pilot projects and initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of GP practices in the region.
Elsewhere, the Advice on Prescription service in Liverpool, delivered in partnership between the local NHS and Citizens Advice, received the Tackling Health Inequalities Award, after a recent research study found that the service improved the health and wellbeing of patients experiencing poverty through practical advice and support.
Best for Baby Too, an NHS-led maternity equality collaborative in Liverpool, won the Outstanding Contribution to Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement category for their film ‘When You Know…Childbirth in the asylum system’, which raises awareness of the hidden challenges faced by women navigating maternity care while living under asylum restrictions.
The Patient Safety and Care Improvement Award went to Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and the North West Neonatal Operational Delivery Network for developing resources to help parents and carers of newborns with safe and responsible medication management and administration at home.
Meanwhile The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust won the Innovation in Workforce Culture Award for its ‘Be Innovative’ scheme, which encourages staff and patients to submit ideas to help foster innovation and nurture new ideas.
Rounding off the list of winners from the region was Liverpool John Moores University, which received the Ruth Young Award for Research Implementation/Impact for its Multi-Modal Approach to Preventing Suicide in Schools (MAPSS), which was first piloted in Cheshire and Merseyside and is now being tested across the North West.
Visit the North West Coast Research and Innovation Awards website for a full list of winners and finalists from this year.
Content provided by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.
Published on Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT
Modified on Thu, 17 Apr 2025 16:40:56 GMT
