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A partnership led by North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, alongside The Strategy Unit and The New Hospital Programme, has been shortlisted for the Data-Driven Transformation Award at the HSJ Awards 2026 for its pioneering project, Transforming Hinchingbrooke with OpenPlan. 

The HSJ Awards recognise outstanding contributions to healthcare across the UK and celebrate organisations and teams delivering innovation, improved outcomes and excellence for patients and communities.

The shortlisted project centres on OpenPlan, an innovative, open-source modelling tool developed by The Strategy Unit to support evidence-based healthcare infrastructure planning. The model has been used to support the redevelopment of Hinchingbrooke Hospital, which requires replacement due to the deterioration of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) panels within the existing estate. 

Using more than 50,000 anonymised patient records, population projections and clinically-led planning assumptions, OpenPlan has enabled North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and system partners to develop a robust understanding of future healthcare demand and ensure the new hospital is appropriately sized to meet the needs of future generations. 

The project has strengthened collaboration between the Trust, NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (now Central East ICB), clinicians and national partners. The model has informed investment decisions, supported the Strategic Outline Case for redevelopment funding and created a shared evidence base for planning services across the local health and care system.

OpenPlan is already being used by more than 20 hospitals across England and is helping establish a consistent national approach to healthcare planning. Lessons learned through Hinchingbrooke's early adoption have directly influenced the ongoing development of the model, benefiting organisations across the NHS.

Ellie Lane, Deputy Programme Director for the Hinchingbrooke Hospital Redevelopment Programme, said: "We are delighted to be shortlisted for the HSJ Awards 2026. Transforming Hinchingbrooke with OpenPlan demonstrates how data-driven decision-making can help us design healthcare services around the future needs of our patients and communities. This recognition highlights the strength of collaboration between our Trust, partners and clinicians, and our shared commitment to building a modern, sustainable hospital that will serve generations to come."

Simon Bourne from The Strategy Unit, said: "This is brilliant news and it shows what is possible when high-quality analytical tools are built once and shared across the whole NHS - exactly what The Strategy Unit and the New Hospital Programme set out to do with the OpenPlan demand model. 

“As one of the earliest adopters, the team at Hinchingbrooke deserve real credit for how they used it. They brought clinicians and their ICB into the assumption-setting rather than keeping it inside the planning team. Their approach has informed many improvements to the model which are now benefiting users across the NHS."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

About the Project

OpenPlan provides a transparent, evidence-based approach to forecasting future healthcare demand and infrastructure requirements. For Hinchingbrooke Hospital, it has enabled planners and clinicians to move beyond traditional forecasting methods, supporting more ambitious service transformation, improved resource planning and better value for public investment.

The winners of the HSJ Awards 2026 will be announced at the awards ceremony later this year.