Hacking healthcare: a weekend of innovation
6 January 2025
Over the weekend of 16 and 17 November, clinicians, healthcare workers, designers, coders, IT experts, and software engineers gathered for Moorfields Hack Day, sponsored by Moorfields Eye Charity.
A hack day is a collaborative event during which experts from diverse backgrounds work together to build or improve a solution to a challenge.
Typically, they are held over one or two days and give teams an environment to brainstorm and kick off new ideas.
These events won’t immediately result in a final product, but do provide a launchpad to take ideas to the next level.
Over two days, participants collaborated to develop digital solutions to key NHS challenges, sharing ideas, forming teams, and creating innovative projects.
” Initiatives like Moorfields Hackday are crucial for healthcare innovation. By bringing together clinicians and technologists, we can identify real-world challenges and develop user-centred solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that technology truly meets the needs of patients and healthcare providers. Also, the incredibly positive energy of the weekend was a dopamine hit for all! ”
Pei-Fen Lin, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and clinical director of digital innovation)
The event kicked off with a series of pitches from healthcare professionals, each outlining a specific problem they faced in their daily work.
These presentations led to lively discussions and the formation of diverse teams, united by a shared goal of improving patient care.
As the weekend progressed, teams worked tirelessly to develop their digital solutions. From designing user-friendly interfaces to writing complex algorithms, participants poured their energy into bringing their ideas to life.
On the final day, teams presented their projects to a panel of judges, including healthcare innovator Jenny Chong, app developer Bill Irvine, and Professor Rami Qahwaji of the University of Bradford. The judges were impressed by the quality and potential impact of the projects.
The winning projects
Triage AI: Overall Hackday champions
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This team addressed the issue of long wait times for ophthalmology referrals. They developed an AI-powered system that can quickly triage referral letters, prioritise cases, and allocate appointments. By automating this process, Triage AI can free up doctors’ time, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce the burden on the NHS. This project won the overall Hackday Champions Award - the judges agreed that their project stood out as exceptionally innovative, technically skilled and with great potential impact
Visionaries: Launchpad award winners
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This team tackled the challenge of improving the tracking of medical implants. They developed a mobile app that allows surgeons to scan barcodes on packets of lenses used for cataract surgery, ensuring accurate and efficient inventory management. By reducing the risk of human error, this solution has the potential to significantly improve patient safety and reduce the need for unnecessary surgeries. They were named Launchpad award winners – the judges agreed that this project shows clear deliverability and potential for deployment. Using support from Moorfields Eye Charity, the department of digital medicine will continue to work with this team to develop their idea.
Homeflow: Group favourite
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This team focused on the challenge of delayed patient discharges. They designed a digital platform that streamlines the discharge process by automating paperwork, coordinating care, and facilitating communication between healthcare providers and social services. By reducing hospital stays and preventing unnecessary readmissions, Homeflow can improve patient outcomes and alleviate pressure on the healthcare system. This team was nominated by attendees as the overall community favourite. Although this project would be a major undertaking, the group appreciated the energy and creativity of the team in addressing this issue.
Special mention: A challenge set by Moorfields Eye Hospital staff
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Many cataract surgery patients struggle to remember the complex dosing schedules for their post-operative eye drops. This often leads to missed doses and potential complications. To address this issue, this team developed the “Cataract Calendar,” a user-friendly system that provides clear and concise reminders. This innovative solution can be delivered as a digital app or a physical calendar, ensuring that patients adhere to their treatment plan and improve their recovery outcomes.
This event demonstrated the power of collaboration and innovation in healthcare.
Each team will continue to work together to take these ideas forward and towards real-world impact.
By bringing together diverse minds and fostering a culture of experimentation, Moorfields Hack Day and similar Moorfields Eye Charity-supported initiatives help to inspire a new generation of healthcare innovators.
