Mike Sanders, CEO of VitalHub UK (Credit: Mike Sanders, CEO of VitalHub UK)
South West Provider Collaborative (SWPC) will implement an electronic bed management and referral solution for specialist mental health services in the region.
SWPC is a partnership comprising NHS trusts, independent sector organizations and a community interest company, with Devon Partnership NHS Trust as the lead provider.
Starting in April 2026, the solution Novari Health It will be used in child and adolescent mental health services, adult eating disorders, inpatient perinatal services and secure mental illness services to manage referrals, mental health bed capacity and patient flow.
Dr Jason Fee, medical director at NHS SWPC, said: “As a specialist mental health commissioner providing patient-centred care across a wide geographical area, it is vital that we are able to manage the patient journey from referral to assessment and admission.
“The ability to access real-time bed availability at a regional or unit level means we can optimize bed utilization, report on activity and address system pressure points. We can also identify any urgent referrals and prioritize patient care based on need.”
The project, which is already underway, spans seven integrated care boards (ICBs), more than 9,000 square miles and 5.8 million patients and involves integration with SWPC’s electronic patient records (EPR) systems. Access River and TPP‘s SystmOne, as well as NHS Spine.
Once active, the solution will enable comprehensive referencing through configurable sorting and workflow tracking, standard referencing from all sources and real-time regional dashboards for capacity visibility across the South West.
Novari’s technology also includes optional AI-enhanced analytics that provide real-time data on patient wait times, helping organizations improve resource utilization, identify workflow bottlenecks, and increase operational efficiency.
John Sinclair, chairman and chief executive of Novari Health, said: “This rollout is a milestone for Novari in the UK.
“By unifying referral and mental health bed management across nine providers and four specialist service lines, the South West Collaborative is setting a new standard for regional care coordination.
“Our technology is specifically designed to give clinicians and managers the real-time visibility they need to reduce waits, improve access and ensure patients receive treatment in the right environment, closer to home.
“We are proud to be partners in delivering such a forward-thinking mental health care model.”
SWPC is the first organization to commission Novari Health, following its recent acquisition by VitalHub UK., which has solutions used by the majority of critical trusts, over 80% of mental health trusts and around 70% of ICBs across England.
Mike Sanders, CEO of VitalHub UK, said: “The implementation of Novari’s mental health solution in this region will not only bring immediate benefits in terms of visibility and efficiency, but also demonstrates how UK health systems can leverage proven, interoperable technologies to transform the flow of patients across organizational boundaries.
“This is a clear example of technology that improves the entire system, both for patients and providers.”
