22nd October 2026
Southern Health and Social Care Trust teams have been recognised at the Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland (DHCNI) HSC Digital Awards 2026, including two winning projects.
The Trust’s Data Quality and Information Standards/Data Definitions Partnership Team was named Digital Team of the Year for its work to improve the quality, consistency and reliability of information recorded within encompass.
The team has strengthened recording standards, improved data quality and developed solutions that support patient care, service planning and reporting across both the Trust and the wider health and social care system.
There was also success for the Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools (EWTS), which was named winner of the Partnership for Digital Innovation Award.
Led by the Southern Trust, EWTS is a regional collaboration across the five HSC Trusts, SPPG, CAMHS, schools and community partners. Its use of digital technology to support resource sharing for schools across NI is helping to build school staff capacity to support emotional wellbeing and equip young people with skills to manage their own wellbeing.
Three other Trust projects were recognised as runners-up at the awards.
The Steps to Wellness Digital Self-Referral Pathway was runner-up in the Empowering People category, while the Trust’s implementation of Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) and Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) was runner-up in Improving Staff Experience Through Digital and Data.
The Pharmacy Encompass Implementation Team was also runner-up in the Digital Team of the Year category.
Elaine Wilson, Director of Planning, Performance and Informatics, said:
“We were incredibly proud to have four Southern Trust teams shortlisted for this year’s awards, and it is fantastic to see their work recognised at a regional level.
“To have our Data Quality and Information Standards/Data Definitions Partnership Team named Digital Team of the Year is a fantastic achievement, alongside the recognition for our other shortlisted teams.
“We are also delighted to see the Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools partnership recognised. Led by the Southern Trust, this is a great example of organisations working together and using digital innovation to support children and young people across Northern Ireland.
“Congratulations to everyone involved. This recognition reflects the commitment of our staff and partners to using digital technology and data to improve services, support our workforce and deliver better outcomes for the people we serve.”
The HSC Digital Awards recognise individuals and teams using digital technology, data and innovation to improve services, enhance staff experience and deliver better outcomes for patients, service users and families across Northern Ireland.
2. Digital Team Of The Year WinnerDigital Team of the Year winner: Members of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust's Data Quality and Information Standards/Data Definitions Partnership Team celebrate winning the Digital Team of the Year Award for 'Data Issues to Digital Improvement: Building Trust in Encompass Data'. Pictured (L-R) are Dr Paul Rice, Department of Health; Conor Friel, Telefónica Tech; Connor Murphy, Data Quality and Clinical Coding Manager, Southern Trust; Lesley-Anne Reid, Data Definitions and Standards Co-ordinator, Southern Trust; Kathy Trimble, Data Quality Control Officer, Southern Trust; Liz Canniffe, Data Quality Technical Lead, Southern Trust; and Phil Taylor, Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland.
4. Improving Staff Experience Runners UpImproving Staff Experience runners up: Members of the team behind the implementation of Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) and Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) received the Runner-Up Award in the Improving Staff Experience Through Digital and Data category at the Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland HSC Digital Awards 2026. Pictured (L-R) are Dr Paul Rice, Department of Health; Rachel Steenson, BT Business; Tony Griffiths, Western Health and Social Care Trust; Leanne Straney, Lead Nurse for Digital Practice, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; Gaby Smyth, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; Garrett Martin, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Information Officer, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; and Claire Buchner, Assistant Director of Digital Nursing, Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland.
3. Digital Team Of The Year Runners UpDigital Team of the Year runners up: Members of the Pharmacy Encompass Implementation Team received the Runner-Up Award in the Digital Team of the Year category at the Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland HSC Digital Awards 2026. Pictured (L-R) are Emma Dickson, Lead Epidemiologist; Dr Paul Rice, Department of Health; Conor Friel, Telefónica Tech; Declan Bradley, Director of Population Research and Intelligence, Public Health Agency; Magda Bucholc, Head of Health Intelligence, Public Health Agency; Chris Nugent, Lead Epidemiologist, Public Health Agency; Katie Binely, Lead Epidemiologist, Public Health Agency; Tanya Creaner, Chief Pharmacy Technician; Caroline Patton; Jillian Redpath, Encompass Lead Pharmacist, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; and Phil Taylor, Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland.
5. Empowering People Runners UpEmpowering People runners up: Members of the Steps to Wellness team received the Runner-Up Award in the Empowering People category at the Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland HSC Digital Awards 2026. Pictured (L-R) are Dr Paul Rice, Department of Health; Gary Loughran, Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland; Barbara Anne Richardson, Co-ordinator, Steps to Wellness, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; Stephanie Wethers, Head of Services, Adult Psychological Therapies Service; Laura Campbell, Steps to Wellness/Adult Psychological Therapies Team Lead, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; Kerry Mulholland, Help Kids Talk Co-ordinator, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; Patrice Mahon, Assistant Speech and Language Therapy Manager, Children's Services, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; and David Hampton, Cisco
1. Partnership For Innovation WinnerPartnership for Innovation winner: Members of the Emotional Wellbeing Teams in Schools (EWTS) celebrate winning the Partnership for Digital Innovation Award at the Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland HSC Digital Awards 2026. Pictured (L-R) are Dr Paul Rice, Department of Health; Justene Ewing, CGI; Laura McGarry, EWTS Team Lead, Northern Health and Social Care Trust; Jessica Wylie, EWTS Team Lead, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; Darren Curtis, SPPG; and Mark Kendall, Digital Health & Care Northern Ireland.
