North East London NHS Foundation Trust are thrilled to announce that our Harper virtual assistant project has been shortlisted in the Unlocking Productivity and Efficiency with Digital category at the HSJ Digital Awards 2026. 

Harper is an online patient appointment booking system, fully integrated into RiO, that sits on our NELFT website. It allows our patients to book their first appointment as well as view, reschedule or cancel upcoming appointments too.  Its trial has delivered fantastic early results, significantly improving patient access while reducing demand on phone lines and administrative teams.   

Lisa London, Head of Universal Services, Redbridge, shared: “Parents and carers now have the flexibility to book appointments at a time that suits them, without needing to wait for a call-back or navigate complex systems. This has led to a noticeable increase in clinic utilisation and reduced missed appointments.  The Virtual Assistant allows the administrative teams to focus their efforts on contacting families who may not be engaging with the service to encourage them to book an appointment. 

Overall, the self-booking system has enhanced our ability to deliver universal services in a way that is modern, responsive, and aligned with the needs of today's families and in line with the guidance from the NHS 10year plan to implement digital solutions." 

The Harper project was shortlisted from over 450 nominations, demonstrating remarkable ingenuity, passion, and transformative impact in digital health. 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. Being shortlisted is a testament to our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence in digital healthcare and a recognition of our dedication to pioneering digital solutions that are shaping the future of healthcare across the UK. 

David Pike, Assistant Director of Healthcare Informatics – Clinical Systems, shared: “We are honoured and excited to be shortlisted for this award. When we set out to deploy the solution, we wanted to reduce DNAs and say that the solution pays for itself. But we’ve actually seen an improvement in utilisation of our clinics and our estates. It has helped us in that space.” 

The winners will be revealed at the HSJ Digital Awards ceremony on 19 June 2026, a night dedicated to celebrating the brightest minds and most impactful projects in digital health.  

For more information about the HSJ Digital Awards, visit https://digitalawards.hsj.co.uk and for more information on Harper visit our website here.