Wigan hospital trust's BetterLives shortlisted for HSJ awards 2026 in data transformation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's BetterLives Programme has been shortlisted in the Data-Driven Transformation category at the 2026 HSJ Awards.
Wigan hospital chiefs have announced that their “transformational” BetterLives Programme has been shortlisted in the Data-Driven Transformation category at the HSJ Awards, recognising its outstanding contribution to healthcare.
Getting this far celebrates the collaborative efforts of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL), Wigan Council, and the Greater Manchester ICB, specifically the Wigan place team, alongside partners in primary care, community services, and the voluntary sector.
BetterLives is a pioneering, data-driven initiative designed to transform urgent and emergency care.
WWL and partners were shortlisted ahead of the official awards ceremony in November 19 with BetterLives standing out as a real “success story” worthy of a prized place on the panel’s shortlist.
WWL CEO Mary Fleming said: "This nomination is testament to the real strength of partnership working across our health and care system.
“Bringing this collaboration to life has taken dedicated commitment from the Wigan locality place-based leadership, with support from the ICB, representing a genuinely transformative way of working and fostering a true ‘Team Wigan’ culture.
“We are proud of the progress achieved to date and, above all, the outcomes it will deliver for our patients and community in the future."
WWL Chief Operating Officer Sarah Brennan, said: “By uniting partners around a shared vision and leveraging our System Visibility Tool, we have created a single source of truth that enables real-time, joined-up decision-making across the entire care pathway.
“Our journey demonstrates the power of shared data, strong partnerships, and a real focus on resident outcomes.
“We are proud to be setting an example for integrated care.
“It will be a huge boost for our dedicated and hardworking teams, especially in a year when the competition was so tough with an unprecedented volume of entries from so many other equally deserving Trusts and individuals.
“Whatever the result ‘on the night’, we already feel like winners for getting this far and are so proud to have the opportunity to share our success with colleagues from across the entire sector, as well as showcasing everything we’ve learnt through implementing our project.”
BetterLives has made a significant impact, it has:
Supported over 1,700 avoided hospital admissions per year
- Achieved a 13 percentage point improvement in Emergency Department four-hour performance
- Reduced hospital stays by two days for many patients, enabling faster, safer discharges
Enabled 180 more residents to benefit from home-based intermediate care annually
Reduced the need for ongoing homecare packages and care home placements after discharge
Fostered a strong ‘Team Wigan’ culture, breaking down organisational barriers and focusing on what matters most: helping residents live independently and receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time
More than 1,300 entries have been received for this year’s HSJ Awards, with 231 projects and individuals reaching the final shortlist.
The high volume and exceptional quality of applications showcases the impressive levels of innovation and care continually being developed within the UK’s healthcare networks.
HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, added: “It always gives me great pleasure to congratulate our finalists at this stage of the judging process and this year is no exception as we acknowledge WWL for being shortlisted in the category of Data Driven Transformation.