ECHO Communication

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NHS Problem

Echo aims to improve staff capacity by reducing recall admin and improving patient engagement and population engagement of public health programmes.

Founder Story

Co-founders have spent the last 17 years working with the NHS regarding patient engagement. We want to improve on existing technology to show cost reductions while improving the population’s preventative health.

The Solution

ECHO is a digital engagement platform that centralises, automates, and personalises patient recalls for preventative health programmes at Primary Care Network (PCN), Hospital and ICB level. Initially focused on improving cervical cancer screening, it integrates automated multi-channel messaging (NHS App, SMS, email) with culturally tailored educational content co-developed with Guy’s Cancer Academy. ECHO’s analytics dashboard tracks uptake by age, ethnicity, deprivation, and disability to adapt outreach for underserved groups. By reducing administrative burden, increasing equity of engagement, and improving early detection rates, ECHO supports NHS ambitions for prevention, workforce efficiency, and digitally enabled integrated care.

Impact

To improve cervical cancer screening uptake, equity, and efficiency across Worcester City Primary Care Network (PCN), serving 126,215 patients. The innovation is expected to increase cervical screening coverage by at least 5%, meaning over 1,160 additional women screened, detecting an estimated 6–13 early-stage cancers, which could save the NHS £120,000–£150,000 in downstream treatment costs.
By automating recalls and using targeted multi-channel communication. ECHO will:
  • Reduce administrative burden by an estimated 1,600 staff hours per year and generate £25,000–£30,000 in savings through reduced postage, manual work, and digital platform costs.
  • Deliver real-time insights on engagement by demographic group, enabling the PCN to adapt outreach for those least likely to attend, particularly younger women (25–29), ethnic minorities, deprived populations, and people with disabilities.
Long-term, ECHO provides a scalable model for other preventative health programmes, such as:
  • NHS Health Checks
  • Flu
  • COVID vaccinations
  • Long-term condition reviews supporting workforce sustainability and equity across integrated care systems.

The intended impact is a more efficient, inclusive, and data-driven prevention system, directly contributing to the NHS Long Term Plan, Core20PLUS5, and digital transformation priorities.