DRIVE Unit for digital innovation

Turning bold ideas into action

DRIVE facilitates the development of ideas into new data and technology solutions that are scalable across the NHS and beyond. Our robust data infrastructure and capability in data science enable us to carry out early-stage testing of new data driven technologies in healthcare settings.

Collaboration

DRIVE brings together expertise and experiences in a collaborative approach as together, we can do so much​. We provide colleagues within Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), as well as external partners in the NHS, academia and industry with access to subject matter expertise and resources including non-identifiable data where appropriate.

Engagement with our staff, patients and families

Children and young people and those that support them are at the centre of what we do. Involvement and engagement of patients, families and hospital staff will help DRIVE and our partners to make the most of game-changing technologies. We endeavour to grow a culture of innovation and embed the adoption of clinical informatics across GOSH.

We know that when we work together and combine expertise, resources and learnings we can achieve so much more. That is why partnerships and collaborations are core to our mission.

Our current partners

• Arcturis Data: GOSH and Arcturis Data, a UK-based clinical artificial intelligence company have a partnership to use clinical artificial intelligence to analyse anonymised patient data. This will allow us to work together to find new and better ways to treat rare and complex childhood diseases.
• Aridhia Informatics: Aridhia supplies the GOSH DRE, a secure, audited online platform to advance medical research and develop health service improvements. GOSH and Aridhia have a joint offering for a 'fast-track' SDE service.
• Hyland Healthcare: Hyland provides connected healthcare solutions that harness unstructured content and link it to core clinical and business applications such as electronic health records (EHR).
• Roche UK: GOSH and Roche Products Limited (Roche) have a collaborative working agreement that will help establish a new Clinical Informatics and Innovation Unit at GOSH as an exemplar in the NHS, alongside four key areas of focus.
  
  Find out more about our current partners and opportunities here.
  

• 2017 - Life Sciences Industrial Strategy laid out need for NHS collaboration and development of digital innovation hubs to support data-driven innovation.
  
• 2017 - GOSH announce EPIC as provider for Electronic Patient Record to make patient records fully digital.
  
• 2018 - GOSH DRIVE launched and Digital Research Environment established across GOSH and UCL ICH to support secure data provision and complex data analysis for research.
  
• 2019 - Topol Review, Preparing healthcare workforce to deliver a digital future
  
• 2019 - EPIC Electronic Patient Record system 'go live'
  
• 2019 - DRIVE Clinical Informatics Research Programme (CIRP) launched to support collaboration between academia and clinicians, and prepare a next generation of health informaticians.
  
• 2020 - National Data Strategy, set out foundations for addressing shortage of data professionals, ensuring responsible data use and encouraging better access, sharing and mobility of data across sectors.
  
• 2022 - The GOSH Ideas Platform was launched internally by GOSH DRIVE to encourage staff led projects and create a culture of innovation across the trust.
  
• 2022 - Data Saves Lives policy paper, following learnings from the Covid 19 pandemic, which demonstrated the critical role of data in crisis response, the paper set out a bold vision for how the UK can harness the power of data to drive growth, innovation, and better public services.
  
• 2023 - GOSH DRIVE's partnership with Roche UK was highlighted as an exemplar for effective NHS data partnerships in guidance published by the NHS Transformation Directorate.
  
• 2023 - The DRIVE Clinical Insights Unit is established to use advanced data analytics and predictive modelling to understand operational and clinical inefficiencies and create insight reports to support data-driven decision making.
  
• 2023 - GOSH DRIVE become leads for AI and Machine Learning as part of new paediatric NIHR HealthTech Research Centre
  
• 2024 - GOSH joins pioneering PHEMS project to revolutionise use of health data across Europe
  
• 2024 - Sudlow Review found that data is fragmented and called for a coordinated national strategy, streamlined access, and stronger public engagement. It recommended improving data infrastructure like Secure Data Environments (SDEs) and ensuring all data we use clearly benefits the public.
  
• 2024 - Darzi Report highlighted the transformative potential of real-time data and analytics in reducing waiting times, supporting clinical decision making, and enhancing accountability across the health service.
  
• 2024 - GOSH is the only hospital outside of North America to receive innovation funding award for AI imaging project
  
• 2025 - GOSH DRIVE's pan-London trial of AI Ambient Voice Technology was highlighted in the NHS 'Fit for the Future' 10 Year Plan
  
• 2025 - GOSH DRIVE and Aridhia expand partnership to include 'fast-track' SDE service for other health organisations.

We have created a range of impact guides, reports and playbook which we hope will be useful to other health organisations looking to advance innovation.

We also have a list of publications from the team since 2018.

Access our DRIVE resources and publications here.

DRIVE is located at 40 Bernard Street, less than a 10 minute walk from the main hospital building and the UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, providing readily accessible space, which brings together expertise from medicine, academia, data science and industry. These provide the opportunity to host unique events and maximise productivity and collaboration. 

The space has seen meetings and events hosted for our wide range of stakeholders from children and young people to national and international policy makers.