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The informatics team at North East Ambulance Service has been named Digital Data and Technology Team of the Year at the SDN NENC Digital Conference 2026, in recognition of work to strengthen how ambulance data is shared, protected and used across the region.
The award highlights the service’s role in improving secure access to vital health information across the North East and North Cumbria. NEAS is the first organisation in the region to deliver a fully automated data flow into the Secure Data Environment, marking a significant step in enabling consistent and secure data sharing to support ethical research and service improvement.
What this means for patients and staff
Although much of the work happens behind the scenes, the impact is far-reaching. By automating the transfer of ambulance service data, the team has reduced the need for manual handling of sensitive information, improved data consistency and reliability, and strengthened safeguards around access and use.
The approach ensures high-quality data can be used to better understand patient care, outcomes and system pressures, while maintaining strict standards of confidentiality and information governance. In turn, this supports trusted research and evidence-based improvements to services across the region.
A collaborative effort
The nomination recognised close collaboration between informatics and information governance colleagues to ensure data remains both useful and secure.
“This award recognises work that often happens behind the scenes but makes a real difference. By improving how we handle and protect ambulance service data, we are helping to support better understanding of patient care, while always putting confidentiality first.
“It reflects the commitment of colleagues across Informatics and Information Governance to use data responsibly, in a way that supports staff, protects patients and helps improve services for the communities we serve.”
Emily Turnbull, Head of Informatics at North East Ambulance Service.
Recognising the team
The project drew on expertise from across development, information and governance teams. Those involved included:
- Jill Spencer, who supported early development discussions
- Connor Rice, who initiated the build phase
- Jake Bays, who led core delivery and completed the majority of development work
- Emmanuel Okutue, who oversaw the creation of the fully automated process now in place
The information governance team also played a key role in ensuring data sharing remained secure, compliant and patient-focused throughout.
The award recognises not only a technical milestone, but a wider commitment from NEAS to use data responsibly to support staff, protect patients and contribute to research that improves care across the North East and North Cumbria.
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