Our Impact

Over the last five years, NIHR ARC Northwest London has delivered research that improves lives, supports the NHS, and strengthens communities. By working in partnership with residents, health and care services, industry and local authorities, ARC NWL has shown how applied research can drive meaningful change.

Impact

Our research has led to measurable improvements in health and care. The Daily Mile evaluation reached 1 million children in 18,000 schools, shaping Public Health England policy on school-based physical activity. The Digital Sepsis Alert reduced mortality by 14% and has been adopted nationally. Community Health and Wellbeing Workers, inspired by Brazilian models, achieved a 47% increase in childhood immunisation and an 82% increase in screening, impacts cited in the NHS and Government’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan. During COVID-19, our rapid insights on vaccine hesitancy and ethnic disparities informed NHS England, NICE, and parliamentary committees.

Innovation

ARC NWL has consistently tested and scaled new solutions. We were among the first to evaluate remote monitoring programmes such as BP@Home and Oximetry@Home, giving patients greater control of their care. We piloted digital self-care tools like AI mental health chatbots (WYSA) and cholesterol-lowering therapies (inclisiran). Our CAPACITY-UK project enabled the safe reopening of large events during COVID-19. Through Knowledge Mobilisation, we are embedding innovation directly into the NHS, with four fellows in the Integrated Care System accelerating the adoption of evidence.

Investment

ARC NWL has attracted significant new funding and delivered strong returns on investment for the NHS and local partners. We secured £560,000 from NIHR to build knowledge mobilisation capacity, embedding four new fellows in the Integrated Care System. Our investment in the WSIC and Discover data platforms, now covering 2.4 million residents, has enabled advanced analytics on multimorbidity, maternal vaccination, and social care demand (15,373 older adults modelled). We have invested in people as well as systems: the Improvement Leader Fellowship has trained 13 cohorts of NHS leaders; Collaborative Learning Events engaged hundreds of participants; and academic writing workshops supported 15 early-career researchers, generating publications and grants. Crucially, our research is saving money as well as improving health. The Community Health and Wellbeing Worker model delivers a projected £3 return for every £1 invested, alongside increased prevention uptake and reduced GP use.

Inclusivity

Inclusivity has been at the heart of ARC NWL’s work. We co-produced our Patient, Public, Community Engagement & Involvement Strategy (2021) with diverse public partners, ensuring community voices are embedded across all themes. Through Community Research Champions and our ICS REN health roadshows, we engaged 3178 residents and delivered over 1200 free health checks, bringing research to where people live. 

Our Ethnicity & Health Unit (EHU) has provided national leadership on equity in research and practice. The EHU co-chairs the NIHR Race Equality Public Action Group, published influential BMJ editorials, and pioneered the Medical Workplace Race Equity Standard (MWRES),  a framework enabling NHS organisations to measure and improve race equity across their workforce. The EHU has also led work to better understand and support International Medical Graduates, who make up a large proportion of the NHS workforce but often face unique challenges in career progression, wellbeing, and inclusion.

The IMG induction programme launched by the EHU was attended live by 1,500+ delegates, with a further 1,000 viewers watching the recording. Capacity has been built with four Integrated Care Boards and nine hospital Trusts, and surveys across 21 NHS Trusts are shaping the roll-out. With Professor Mala Rao now serving as clinical advisor to the GMC, this programme is influencing national policy to ensure IMGs are welcomed, supported, and able to thrive in their NHS careers.

From tackling vaccine hesitancy in local communities to embedding equity in workforce policy, ARC NWL has ensured that diversity, inclusion, and representation run through every aspect of our work.

Delivering the NHS’s 3 Big Shifts

Sickness to Prevention: CHWWs boosted vaccination and screening uptake; predictive models for social care and CKD supported early intervention.

Analogue to Digital: Digital tools like the NHS App and AI self-care platforms gave patients control; WSIC data enabled care tailored to multimorbidity clusters.

Hospital to Community: Home monitoring for blood pressure and oxygenation, alongside integrated adolescent mental health services (Best for You), shifted care into community and family settings.