Here you can find details of a range of current and previously-completed HSMA projects, split by the key areas the project addresses.
Click on the preview for each project to read the full details. For many completed projects, you can watch a short talk from the HSMAs who undertook the project on their plans, successes and challenges.
Mental Health
Neurodiversity
Use of Discrete Event Simulation to Tackle Long Waits and a Growing Backlog for Children Requiring Neuro Development Assessment (Autism and ADHD)
The aim of the project was to understand the current pathway to assessment of Autism and ADHD in children, identifying any bottlenecks. We wanted to know what change needed…
Discrete Event Simulation modelling of childrens ADHD diagnosis and treatment
This project is using Discrete Event Simulation to model the children’s ADHD diagnostic and treatment pathway. The model will be used to identify delays and potential…
Using Data Science techniques to address delays in the pathway for Neurodiversity Diagnoses in Children and Young People in Devon
Currently, across multiple healthcare providers in Devon, around 6,000 children have been waiting more than 52 weeks for a neurodiversity diagnosis. These diagnoses can…
Mental Health Inpatients
Predicting Violent Incidents on Mental Health Inpatient Units
The aim of the project was to see if the occurrence of violent incidents on hospital wards could be reduced, if incidents could be pre-empted and interventions could be…
NHS Talking Therapies (Formerly IAPT)
Discrete Event Simulation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Pathway in an IAPT Service
The aim of the project was to use Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to model the current wait list for High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (HI-CBT). The team wanted…
• NHS Dorset
Modelling secondary care psychological therapy flow
Poor patient pathway flow is leading to long waits for patient to receive treatment for severe and enduring mental health problems. The current focus is for Adult mental…
Other Mental Health Projects
Diseases
Diabetes
Predicting Gestational Diabetes and other maternity-related conditions using machine learning
Maternity-related conditions, such as gestational diabetes, can have significant impacts on the health of both the mother and baby if not identified early. Current…
Cancer
Use Of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to reduce delays in Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment
The project aim was to develop a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model based on Colorectal Cancer pathway at Gloucester Royal Hospital to identify the key delays within the…
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
• Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
DESmond: Discrete Event Simulation and Artificially Intelligent Forecasting: Modelling the 62 Day Prostate Cancer Pathway
At present we’re missing the 62 day target from referral to treatment of prostate cancer. The pathway involves numerous activities such as triaging, imaging, biopsies as…
Optimising the location of Breast Cancer diagnostic services across Devon
Over 6000 patients a year are referred to RD&E and NDDH for fast-track breast symptom diagnosis. The fast-track clinic requires a clinician, a mammography team and a…
Modelling delays in breast, head and neck cancer pathways
Breast cancer and head and neck cancer are two common cancer sites, where the main clinical pathway is surgery, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Clinical…
Forecasting demand in RDUH breast care services and the impact of urban development
Historically there has been a lack of data science or accurate forecasting in developing capacity. Between 2011 and 2021 the growth in the population served by the Royal…
Evaluating the use of machine learning calssifiers for the identification of the determinants of stage at diagnosis of prostate cancers using registry data
This project will use a selection of ML methods to try to classify whether a given patient is diagnosed at an early or late stage of prostate cancer using a selection of…
RALPulator : Predicting Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) operative times from patient letters
This project is building an app that reads in patient letters ahead of surgery, uses Natural Language Processing techniques to extract key information from the text, and…
COVID-19
Developing a generic vaccination service model for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
In winter 2020, vaccinations had recently been approved for use in the UK to protect people against the COVID-19 virus. Consequently, a mass vaccination programme was…
South East Regional Covid 19 Vaccination Demand & Capacity Modelling
The aim of the project was to create an easy to use model for predicting demand and capacity for Covid vaccinations.
• Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust
Geographic and Boosted Tree Modelling of Healthcare worker vaccination uptake
There is low uptake of Healthcare Workers for COVID and Flu, which is in many Trusts decreasing with each season.
Public Health
Smoking and Weight Management
Modelling the benefit of MECC (Making Every Contact Count) Training using agent based simulation
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is an e-learning programme in which health and social care staff are encouraged to use various interactions with patients to open…
Predictive modelling for smoking cessation success
Smoking is a leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths worldwide. Despite numerous public health campaigns and interventions, smoking cessation remains a significant…
Vaccination
Developing a generic vaccination service model for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
In winter 2020, vaccinations had recently been approved for use in the UK to protect people against the COVID-19 virus. Consequently, a mass vaccination programme was…
South East Regional Covid 19 Vaccination Demand & Capacity Modelling
The aim of the project was to create an easy to use model for predicting demand and capacity for Covid vaccinations.
• Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust
Geographic and Boosted Tree Modelling of Healthcare worker vaccination uptake
There is low uptake of Healthcare Workers for COVID and Flu, which is in many Trusts decreasing with each season.
Other Public Health
Understanding Excess Mortality in Dorset
The project was based on the Dorset ICS (Integrated Care Systems) Health Inequalities programme aim to improve access, enhance the experience of services for everyone.…
Identifying which patients are most at risk for an outcome across integrated neighbourhood teams
Population health management often use population segmentation to categorise the population according to health status, health care needs and priorities. This approach…
Medical Specialties
Cardiac
Reducing Travel Times to Treatment for Cardiac Patients in the South East of England
The aim of the project was to employ geographical and statistical analysis of past and present travel times to understand the impact the flow of activity into London has on…
• NHS England and Improvement
• The Strategy Unit
Colorectal
Use Of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to reduce delays in Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment
The project aim was to develop a Discrete Event Simulation (DES) model based on Colorectal Cancer pathway at Gloucester Royal Hospital to identify the key delays within the…
• University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
• Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
Maternity
Predicting Gestational Diabetes and other maternity-related conditions using machine learning
Maternity-related conditions, such as gestational diabetes, can have significant impacts on the health of both the mother and baby if not identified early. Current…
Neonatal
Modelling the location of neonatal critical care units in North West England
In this project, the optimum location for 22 neonatal care sites across North West England was explored.
Neurology
Referral to treatment waiting times for Neurosurgical patients
This project will aim to model the pathway for Neurosurgical patients, and to explore, based on current waiting times,
Orthopaedics
Modelling strategies to reduce the elective backlog in hip surgery
This project used Discrete Event Simulation to model the hip surgery patient pathway in Exeter to understand the potential impact of various strategies to reduce the backlog…
• Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Physiotherapy
Modelling Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy services across Exeter, Mid and East Devon
This project aims to explore the demand for and access to Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy services across Exeter, Mid and East Devon.
Analysis and prediction of seasonality in pathologies requiring ITU admission
Anecdotally, many intensive care clinicians know that admission causes follow specific patterns, for example we see more cardiac arrests in summer, more pancreatitis in…
Renal
Predicting the future demand for Renal replacement therapy
The problem: Kidney disease is projected to be the fifth leading cause of premature deaths globally by 2040. With people living longer and having more comorbidities, the…
DES model of a North West Renal Dialysis Unit to evaluate the impact of the growing need for in-centre Chronic Kidney Disease dialysis provision
The rising demand for dialysis of patients with Chronic Kidney disease is putting regional centres under increasing strain. The North West Kidney Network are keen to…
Respiratory
Using Machine Learning to Predict Hospital Admissions and Length of Stay for Respiratory Conditions
The aim of the project was to use available Primary and Secondary Care patient history and demographic information to better predict the chance of admission for respiratory…
Rheumatology
The role of Patient Initiated Follow-up (PIFU) and ‘Digital Outpatients’ in Supporting the Elective Recovery - Can We Better Size Potential for Clearing the Backlog?
The aim of the project is to find out what role Patient Initiated Follow-up (PIFU) can play in the redeployment of capacity to address the backlog. This will be done by…
A Discrete Event Simulation Model to reduce Rheumatology waiting times in Dorset
The current Referral to Treatment waiting list is at its highest level in NHS history. Identifying methods for reducing the waiting list and waiting times would benefit…
• BCP Council
Urology
Evaluating the use of machine learning calssifiers for the identification of the determinants of stage at diagnosis of prostate cancers using registry data
This project will use a selection of ML methods to try to classify whether a given patient is diagnosed at an early or late stage of prostate cancer using a selection of…
RALPulator : Predicting Robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) operative times from patient letters
This project is building an app that reads in patient letters ahead of surgery, uses Natural Language Processing techniques to extract key information from the text, and…
Patient Groups
Children (Paediatrics)
Simulation modelling to test proposed models of pediatric critical care in South West England
This project used a combination of Discrete Event Simulation and Geographic Modelling approaches to determine where Level 2 Pediatric Critical Care Units should be located…
Use of Discrete Event Simulation to Tackle Long Waits and a Growing Backlog for Children Requiring Neuro Development Assessment (Autism and ADHD)
The aim of the project was to understand the current pathway to assessment of Autism and ADHD in children, identifying any bottlenecks. We wanted to know what change needed…
Forecasting Demand and Length of Stay in the Emergency Department
The project aimed to use forecasting and machine learning methods to predict the length of stay and arrivals to the Emergency Department (ED) at different times of day, days…
Discrete Event Simulation modelling of childrens ADHD diagnosis and treatment
This project is using Discrete Event Simulation to model the children’s ADHD diagnostic and treatment pathway. The model will be used to identify delays and potential…
Using Data Science techniques to address delays in the pathway for Neurodiversity Diagnoses in Children and Young People in Devon
Currently, across multiple healthcare providers in Devon, around 6,000 children have been waiting more than 52 weeks for a neurodiversity diagnosis. These diagnoses can…
Older Adults
Using machine learning models to predict future frailty
This project will use machine learning methods to estimate the size of the Wakefield District population who will likely be frail in 2 / 3 / 4 years time, and to understand…
Predicting the risk of injurious falls in older people with atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia which increases the risk of stroke.
Women’s health
Optimising the location of Breast Cancer diagnostic services across Devon
Over 6000 patients a year are referred to RD&E and NDDH for fast-track breast symptom diagnosis. The fast-track clinic requires a clinician, a mammography team and a…
Predicting Gestational Diabetes and other maternity-related conditions using machine learning
Maternity-related conditions, such as gestational diabetes, can have significant impacts on the health of both the mother and baby if not identified early. Current…
Modelling delays in breast, head and neck cancer pathways
Breast cancer and head and neck cancer are two common cancer sites, where the main clinical pathway is surgery, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Clinical…
Workforce
Investigating factors impacting NHS workforce retention
This project aimed to work out which factors are the biggest drivers of staff turnover using regression modelling on staff workforce figures as well as other local factors such as employment. This was turned into a dashboard for internal use. However, it was concluded that the currently available data only acccounted for 13% of the variation in turnover seen; more data on other factors is required to explain the patterns seen.
• Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Geographic and Boosted Tree Modelling of Healthcare worker vaccination uptake
There is low uptake of Healthcare Workers for COVID and Flu, which is in many Trusts decreasing with each season.
Forecasting the supply of medical doctors
The problem: Not enough medical doctors by region and we need to establish the gap between what we have and what we need.
Inequalities
Developing a Service Planning Decision Support Tool to Tackle Inequalities and Minimise Carbon Output
There are three current significant health agendas to which this project broadly relates.
• Torbay Council
• West Sussex County Council
Using Machine Learning to estimate inequities in access to hospital procedures
The aim of this project was to determine on an ICB, LTLA and UTLA the overall level of disparity in accessing planned appointments in hospital. The team did this for each…
Creating a tool to automatically generate health equity audits for Community Diagnostic Centres
Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) have been launched across England to tackle the diagnostic backlog and address healthcare inequalities. CDCs and commissioners struggle…
• Reading Borough Council
Developing a tool to assess inequalities and demographic coverage of service locations
This project hopes to empower NHS service providers with a tool that grants a deeper understanding of the population they serve and allows them to direct future service…
• Wessex AHSN
• Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Mapping health inequalities, depreviation, ethnicities and crime across the UK
The aim of the project is to use ONS data around ethnicities of population, health index England, Deprivation data from QOF, and overlay the same with crime statistics at a…
Identifying potential concurrent treatment areas and services that would better support patients with multiple, complex referral to treatment (RTT) pathways.
The aim of this project is to use machine learning approaches to support analysis of patients with multiple concurrent RTT pathways, focusing particularly on healthcare…
Automating and scaling waiting list equity analysis at a trust level
More information coming soon!
eFIT: Extra funding allocation - inequality tool
More information coming soon!
Non-NHS Project Areas
Police
What are they saying about us? An AI tool to determine the sentiment of tweets to police forces across the country, and what people are talking about
This project used AI-based Natural Language Processing methods to develop a dashboard that predicts the sentiment (positive or negative) of every tweet to every police force…
Generating a richer understanding of relationships in crime data in order to identify opportunities to safeguard individuals and families
This project used Network Analysis methods to identify the social relationships between groups of people who could be causing significant issues within their communities…
Spatial Modelling of Violent Crime to Support Strategic Analysis
The aim of this project was to use various crime data variables and spatial analysis to turn them into useful insights for inclusion in assessed intelligence reporting.
• Devon and Cornwall Police
• Devon County Council
Using Natural Language Processing to detect drug related content within free text
Since the amount of data being collected and stored has increased significantly, datasets are often reviewed manually, particularly when free text fields are present. This…
• Derbyshire Police
• Greater Manchester Police
Using Agent Based Simulation to understand criminal adoption of new technologies
I work in a field that researches the use of technology by criminals. Often, we want to understand how the use and behaviours for a new technology might develop, or have…
Mapping health inequalities, depreviation, ethnicities and crime across the UK
The aim of the project is to use ONS data around ethnicities of population, health index England, Deprivation data from QOF, and overlay the same with crime statistics at a…
Council
Identifying unpaid carers in Norfolk
There are thousands of unpaid carers. Among many other risks, unpaid carers are likely to experience poor mental health, loneliness and isolation. Supporting the mental and…
Predictive modelling for smoking cessation success
Smoking is a leading cause of preventable diseases and deaths worldwide. Despite numerous public health campaigns and interventions, smoking cessation remains a significant…
Modelling strategies to reduce the elective backlog in hip surgery
This project used Discrete Event Simulation to model the hip surgery patient pathway in Exeter to understand the potential impact of various strategies to reduce the backlog…
• Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
Discrete Event Simulation to model elective surgery pathways
The aim of the project was to create a Discrete Event Simulation in SimPy to model elective surgery pathways, which could be used to model changes to a pathway and their…
Exploring the use of Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing to teach a machine to predict whether a patient is likely to be imminently admitted to hospital based on GP data and clues in GP notes
This exploratory project explored the use of Natural Language Processing methods to automate the extraction of key information from free-text patient notes in order to…
• Peninsula Dental School
• Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation
Meeting the demand of 111 for primary care services
This was an attempt to model the impact of enforcing timely primary care interventions when 111 calls are undertaken.
• Devon CCG
• University of Plymouth
Modelling the impact of 111 and GP access on Emergency Departments
This project will use Discrete Event Simulation to model patients’ navigation of GP vs 111 services and assess the knock-on effect for Emergency Departments.
Modelling 111 option 2 call centre
We operate 2 separate 111 call centres for mental health patients (for both Norfolk and Suffolk). These are both set up in different ways (one fully staffed with ‘qualified’…
111 Downstream forecasting
The aim of this project is to develop a model that, based on incoming 111 calls, predicts the likely place, time and volume of downstream activity due to these calls. This…
Population segmentation of GP-registered population in Dorset
The aim of this project is to create a machine learning-based population segmentation model for the GP-registered Dorset population using multiple characteristics including…