Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Primary Care (IPC) has been shortlisted in the prestigious HSJ Digital Awards 2026, in recognition of its work to help patients access and use the NHS App to manage their health. Our Digital Champions team has taken an innovative approach to reaching Coventry & Warwickshire’s diverse communities, breaking down language and access barriers so that more people can benefit from the App.
The Digital Champions’ work has been shortlisted in the Digital Equality, Diversity and Inclusion category after the team were able to demonstrate targeted efforts to reach those who would be unlikely or unable to easily access surgery-based drop-in events or feel confident setting up the app without support. Having assessed the needs of different communities, the Digital Champions worked with GP practices and partners to set up events at locations as varied as factories, universities, colleges, vaccination clinics, warm hubs and libraries, offering 1-2-1 support. The aim was to reach people in places they already attended and felt comfortable.
Our team identified the main languages spoken in different parts of Coventry and Warwickshire, before creating step by step instructions on how to set up the app in different languages, with visuals to make the process easier to follow. These resources have been shared with practices and can be displayed on waiting room TVs. IPC’s Digital Champions have also delivered ‘train the trainer’ sessions in GP practices to enable practice staff to help patients set up and use the NHS App.
Neil Collins, Digital Champions Programme Lead at Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Primary Care, said:
“We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in the HSJ Digital Awards. Our work on improving NHS App uptake has been a real team effort, including the major employers, voluntary organisations and Primary Care Networks that have collaborated with us.
“With the government’s 10 Year Health Plan putting more emphasis on moving from analogue to digital, we want everyone across Coventry & Warwickshire to feel confident in using the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions, look up test results or check their record. We’re extremely proud of the impact we have had to date and it’s great to see our innovative approach to community engagement independently recognised as a finalist at the HSJ Digital Awards.”
The HSJ Digital Awards shine a light on teams and organisations driving meaningful change through technology, improving patient outcomes, streamlining processes, and enhancing the overall quality of care. A record-breaking 468 entries were submitted to the HSJ Digital Awards this year, of which, 201 projects have been shortlisted, each demonstrating remarkable ingenuity, passion, and transformative impact in digital health. The winners will be revealed at the HSJ Digital Awards ceremony on 19 May 2026.
