A new Staffordshire business is helping healthcare providers around the country better plan the use of their resources in the wake of the NHS crisis.
VUIT, a data analytics and visualisation specialist, has produced an online tool with customisable visuals that can help identify groups which need additional support and which providers can deliver it best.
The company, based on Keele University’s campus, was only launched in May last year but has already won work with Black Country Integrated Care System (ICS) and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
Negotiations are ongoing for a multi-year contract with a global medical device manufacturer and VUIT has been selected as the partner of choice for a Keele University research project into musculoskeletal conditions.
It has three regional offices and has used its links with the university to recruit a computer science graduate as a healthcare analyst, as well as a student as an intern for project work. It is currently looking for a senior analyst to join the team.
VUIT has also just been announced as a finalist for the Start-Up Award in the Medilink Midlands Business Awards 2023, with the winner announced in March.
Founder Adam Townsend, a former NHS Operations Director, pictured above, said: “The NHS is at a pivotal point at the moment and providers need to really understand their population in order to serve them best.
“National NHS data sets are not always published in a user-friendly way and are often found unusable, leaving healthcare professionals often just using headcount when making plans on how to service communities.
“In a sector where there is not enough money and resources, we are able to show decision-makers in healthcare where the need is so that they can focus resources on the biggest area of need in order to have more impact on the most people.
“Our team uses our combined skills in data analysis and operational expertise to create visuals that come out of intelligence and experience rather than number crunching.”
Its population health tool uses the latest available data from multiple national data pools covering areas such as specific long term conditions, prescribed medication and patients per GP. Other services provide data on everything from A&E performance to vaccination programme update.
VUIT anticipates working with 20 per cent of England’s 42 ICSs – partnerships of organisations that deliver joined up health and care services – in its second year of business.
“We have been amazed at the diverse uses for our product and are thrilled to have been shortlisted for such a prestigious award,” Adam added.
