Innovative digital care programme will improve treatment access, reduce health inequalities and enable thousands of residents to achieve better health.
Professor Amy Grove, a psychologist and Professor of Implementation Science at Birmingham’s Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science, will lead the independent evaluation of the programme.
A new partnership between NHS organisations, community groups, digital health innovators and University of Birmingham analysts has received funding from the Government’s Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP). It will create a more joined up and accessible approach to obesity care in Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country.
Led by Birmingham and Solihull and Black Country Integrated Care Board and supported by analysts from the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science (CEIS), the three-year BRIDGE programme will introduce a new digital front door that allows people to self-refer, be identified through existing healthcare records, or be referred by healthcare professionals.
Across Birmingham, Solihull and the Black Country, more than 2.6 million adults and children are living with obesity. Many of these, including young adults and teenagers, people living with serious mental illness and individuals who need to lose weight before orthopaedic surgery, face significant challenges accessing support because of complex referral pathways, long waiting times, language barriers, stigma and digital exclusion.
The BRIDGE programme will offer patients personalised support, using clinically approved pathways. Where appropriate it will refer directly into suitable services without the need for multiple appointments or repeated assessments. It supports the ten-year plan for the NHS, Fit for the Future, which aims to shift care from analogue to digital systems, strengthen community-based care, and move from sickness to prevention.
The programme will be evaluated independently by CEIS, which partners with organisations to design and evaluate health and social care programmes that deliver measurable and lasting change. Professor Amy Grove, Dr Peter Auguste, Dr Sarah Damery, Dr Arabella Scantlebury and analysts from CEIS will lead the evaluation of BRIDGE’s implementation, clinical outcomes, health economics and workforce impact.
The project will aim to tackle health inequalities and be co-designed with patients and communities through Community Connexions. This will help ensure services reflect the diverse needs of local residents. Digital services will be available in multiple languages and supported by telephone and face-to-face options to ensure people are not excluded because of language, literacy or access to technology.
Dr Jonathan Hazlehurst, Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham and Consultant Endocrinologist at University Hospital Birmingham, said: "Obesity is one of the most significant public health challenges facing our communities, yet too many people are unable to access the support they need.
“Through BRIDGE, we are creating a more equitable, patient-centred system that makes it easier for people to access high-quality care while reducing pressure on frontline NHS services. This programme gives us an opportunity to design services around the needs of our population and ensure support reaches those who have traditionally faced barriers.”
The first pilot sites are expected to launch during 2026, and the programme includes a gradual phased roll-out. Patients should not come forward or approach their GP about this program at this stage.
For media information contact Ruth Ashton, University of Birmingham Enterprise, email: r.c.ashton@bham.ac.uk
For more information about the independent evaluation contact admin@ceissolutions.ac.uk.
About the BRIDGE programme
The BRIDGE programme set to establish a scalable model for integrated, digitally enabled care that could be adopted nationally. It is led by Birmingham and Solihull and Black Country Integrated Care Boards and aims to support more than 7,500 people over three years. Priority groups include young adults and teenagers living with obesity, people with serious mental illness and obesity, and patients requiring weight loss before orthopaedic surgery. Partners include the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science, Health Innovation West Midlands, Healum, DDM Health and Community Connexions
125th Anniversary Chair
Amy is a Psychologist and Professor of Implementation Science. She is the Director of the Centre for Evidence and Implementation Science (CEIS)
Assistant Professor in Health Economics and Decision Modelling
Peter's research covers several areas within health economics but mainly undertaking economic evaluation and critical appraisal of economic evidence.
Associate Professor
Dr Damery's work focuses on health and social care service delivery for chronic conditions.
Associate Professor
Arabella is passionate about using methodological innovation to address complex problems in health services delivery and evaluation.
