Samina Sheikh

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Samina Sheikh

Principal Public Health Intelligence Specialist

Public Health Department at The London Borough of Merton

Biography: Samina has worked as a Principal Public Health Intelligence Specialist for over 9 years in the London Borough of Merton, leading the data and intelligence aspects for the Public health team. She oversees the provision of high-quality and often complex information from a range of sources, ensuring that they are appropriately analysed and interpreted for use at operational and strategic levels to support and inform decision-making. Samina provides expert statistical and epidemiological advice to the organisation and other strategic partnerships; particularly when there is conflicting information that requires a high level of understanding and advice for interpretation. She also manages projects on behalf of the organisation and leads long-term plans for designated services, undertaking research projects to support Public Health Intelligence service objectives.

South West London ICL Digital Pioneer Fellowship project summary: Digitally and innovatively transforming the annual Joint Strategic Needs Assessment/Merton Story so that it is automated, interactive and can be refreshed using digital transformation techniques. Implementing a digital solution such as power BI dashboards to present the data so that it can be refreshed automatically annually, requiring less manual work and saving resources. The impact of the project is to provide timely evidence-based information that the Council and its partners can draw upon to inform policy, strategy and action in a way that reflects the needs and priorities of Merton residents.

Estimated number of patients / staff impacted by the project: Patients: 215,000 (Merton population). Staff: 100 to 200.

Goal(s) for time on the South West London ICL Digital Pioneer Fellowship: Samina hopes to learn new skills and knowledge for digital transformation projects, joining other NHS and local Authority colleagues in a similar position – in the initial stages of developing digital applications and projects – to solve similar challenges and share experiences.