Improving lives, transforming care, boosting growth: Health Innovation Manchester publishes Annual Impact Report 2025/26

Health Innovation Manchester has published its Annual Impact Report 2025/26, showcasing how innovation, partnership working and data-driven approaches are improving health outcomes, transforming care and supporting economic growth across Greater Manchester.  

The report highlights progress against Health Innovation Manchester’s refreshed strategy, which focuses on three core ambitions: improving lives and outcomes by addressing the priority drivers of population health, supporting a productive and sustainable health and care system through the deployment of innovation at scale, and boosting jobs and economic growth through industry collaboration and partnerships.  

During 2025/26, Health Innovation Manchester worked with partners across the NHS, local government, academia, industry and communities to tackle some of Greater Manchester’s biggest health and care challenges through innovation, research, digital transformation and data.  

Among the report’s headline achievements are: 

• An estimated £20 million productivity benefit generated through the Greater Manchester Care Record from clinical time saved, representing a 4:1 return on investment during 2025/26.  

• More than 517,000 patient records accessed through the GM Care Record each month by 29,000 frontline professionals 

• A 21.8% reduction in asthma-related emergency department attendances among children and young people supported through the Innovation for Healthcare Inequalities Programme (InHIP). 

• £9.7 million secured for Greater Manchester’s health and care system during 2025/26, bringing the five-year total to £42 million.  

• £17 million in industry co-investment and Innovate UK funding secured through the Greater Manchester Health Innovation Accelerator programme.  

A major milestone during the year was the launch of Greater Data, Health Innovation Manchester’s new real-world data and innovation service for industry and academia. Greater Data combines Greater Manchester’s unique data assets, analytical expertise, public governance and innovation capabilities to support research, generate real-world evidence and accelerate the development, testing and adoption of health innovations.  

The report also demonstrates the impact of collaborative working across Greater Manchester’s health innovation ecosystem. Through programmes such as the Greater Manchester Health Innovation Accelerator, over 17,000 citizens have been engaged in shaping innovative approaches to diagnosis and care, while partnerships between the NHS, academia, industry and communities continue to drive earlier diagnosis, improved treatment pathways and greater research opportunities. 

Professor Ben Bridgewater, Chief Executive Officer at Health Innovation Manchester, said: 

“This has been another important year for Health Innovation Manchester as we continue to accelerate innovation across Greater Manchester and beyond. The NHS 10 Year Health Plan has reinforced the importance of prevention, neighbourhood-based care, digital transformation and improving population health, all areas that closely align with our mission. 

“This year we launched our refreshed strategy, strengthening our focus on improving lives and outcomes, supporting a productive and sustainable health and care system, and boosting economic growth through partnership and innovation. 

“We have continued to scale innovation across Greater Manchester, from tackling cardiovascular, renal and metabolic disease to strengthening our digital and data capabilities. We also launched Greater Data, creating new opportunities to support research, attract investment and improve health outcomes through the responsible use of data. 

“Our progress is only possible because of the strength of our partnerships across the NHS, academia, local government and industry. Together, we are delivering innovation that improves lives locally while helping shape the future of health and care nationally and internationally.” 

The achievements described in the report reflect HInM’s role as Greater Manchester’s shared health innovation organisation. It’s ability to connect system priorities, frontline expertise, data, research, industry capability and lived experience enables innovation to move from idea to implementation and impact.  

In 2026/27, Health Innovation Manchester will build on these foundations by accelerating its major population health missions, increasing the adoption of proven innovations, expanding Greater Data and strengthening its contribution to NHS productivity and inclusive economic growth.