- A new £6 million research project, led by the University of Sheffield, will use advanced ‘digital twin’ virtual simulations to test and redesign NHS services for people living with multiple long-term health conditions
The project, called RESHAPE-CARE, will create computer models that mirror how health services operate, allowing researchers to trial new ways of organising and delivering care in a virtual environment before introducing changes in real-world settings. It is among the first initiatives to apply this technology to the delivery of health services
Initial research will focus on improving type 2 diabetes check-ups in GP practices and diagnostic testing for breathlessness at NHS community diagnostic centres
Advanced virtual simulation could revolutionise NHS care for those living with multiple long term health conditions thanks to a major new £6.1 million research partnership led by the University of Sheffield.
These virtual simulations, also known as ‘digital twins’, will replicate how health services operate, allowing the team to test different ways of organising and delivering care in a virtual environment before introducing change in real-world settings.
Developed by systems engineers and health data experts, these advanced computer models will help to identify the most promising approaches which will then be implemented and evaluated, with findings used to improve the models further.
The project, titled RESHAPE-CARE (‘Re-Engineering Services for Health: Maximising Person-centred Care), will bring together leading expertise across the Faculties of Health, Engineering and Social Sciences to redesign how services are delivered for patients with more than one long-term health conditions.
With an increasing number of people now living with two or more conditions, healthcare systems typically designed to treat a single illness at a time can result in fragmented care that does not support an individual's overall needs.
RESHAPE-CARE aims to move beyond this ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach by bringing together cutting-edge engineering expertise and frontline healthcare experience to deliver practical improvements that enhance care quality and ultimately improve outcomes for people living with multiple long-term conditions.
The research will initially focus on two common challenges: type 2 diabetes check-ups at GP practices, and diagnostic testing for breathlessness at new NHS community diagnostic centres.
Researchers will work closely with patients, focusing on underrepresented groups, alongside clinical teams to identify barriers in current services and opportunities for improvement.
While digital twins are increasingly used in many industries to monitor and improve systems, RESHAPE-CARE will be among the first initiatives to apply this technology to the delivery of health services.
The project is a collaboration with academics at the University of Sheffield and the University of Manchester. It is led by Sheffield’s Professor Chris Burton (School of Medicine and Population Health) and Professor Visakan Kadirkamanathan (School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering), alongside Professor Peter Bath (School of Information, Journalism and Communication). Professors Burton, Kadirkamanathan and Bath are also part of the University’s Healthy Lifespan Institute (HeLSI).
Chris Burton, Professor of Primary Medical Care at the University of Sheffield, said: “Health services have learned a great deal from different industries about standardising care through checklists and protocols for each condition. But this approach doesn't fit so well for people with multiple long-term conditions, particularly when it comes to testing and monitoring their conditions.
“In RESHAPE-CARE, we will develop new and smarter ways of using tests and monitoring conditions that support more personalised care.”
Professor Visakan Kadirkamanathan, Director of Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in Control, Monitoring and Systems Engineering, said: “A key challenge in reshaping healthcare delivery is harnessing emerging digital technologies to get the best value from clinical test data to support decision making between clinicians and patients. Our vision is to adopt a patient-centred approach with human-in-the-loop systems. By building digital twins within a robust systems engineering framework and working with multiple stakeholders, we can help design services that are both more efficient and more responsive to individual needs.”
Peter Bath, Professor of Health Informatics at the University of Sheffield, said: "In RESHAPE-CARE we will work with local communities in Sheffield and South Yorkshire, especially those that traditionally have less say in how care is delivered. They will inform how we design and carry out all the stages of the research. This means our focus will be on finding ways to use new technologies (digital twins) to improve services for the patients who need them most."
Peter Bower, Professor of Health Services Research at the University of Manchester, said: “We are delighted to join the RESHAPE-CARE programme with the University of Sheffield. This will enable us to learn from their recognised system engineering expertise, and to bring our expertise in evaluation and multiple long-term conditions to this exciting collaboration.”
RESHAPE-CARE is one of three projects funded by a collaboration between the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It forms part of an initiative aiming to apply systems engineering to service redesign and drive transformation in healthcare.
The total funding for RESHAPE-CARE is £6m, of which £4.6m has been awarded to The University of Sheffield.
To find out more about ‘Re-Engineering Services for Health: Maximising Person-centred Care’, click here.