CAREFUL for NHS Trusts and ICBs
CAREFUL is a coordination platform for clinical teams, deployed across NHS trusts. It meets all NHS governance and safety standards and can be live within weeks.
Compliance
Every standard is met and verifiable. Not "working towards" — done.
- DCB0129 Clinical Safety Case (active, with named CSO)
- Cyber Essentials Plus — verify →
- NHS DSPT (NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit) — verify →
- ICO registered — verify (ZA249706)
- GDPR compliant
- Microsoft Azure — UK hosting in appropriate zones for data sovereignty
Full DTAC compliance detail → · Security & Compliance →
Procurement routes
CAREFUL can be procured via direct contract. Contact us at hello@careful.online or 0800 955 2273 to discuss procurement options, including G-Cloud and NHS framework status.
Current NHS deployments
Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Foundation Trust — Cross-site Critical Care department, live since January 2023. Referrals, clinical summaries, patient flow, research coordination. Evidence →
Hywel Dda University Health Board — Withybush General Hospital, 18-month pilot. Acute medical take, ED referrals, specialty referrals. 30–60 minutes saved per doctor per shift. 50% reduction in ED wait times. Evidence →
Cardiff & Vale University Health Board — University Hospital of Wales, live since 2024.
Integration capabilities
CAREFUL integrates with NHS EPR and PAS systems via standard interoperability protocols:
- FHIR R4 (read and write)
- HL7v2 ADT (admission, discharge, transfer feeds)
- Mirth Connect integration engine
- Direct API integration with named PAS and EPR systems on request
The coordination landscape
Most NHS trusts run a stack: a core EPR, a system-level data platform for flow visibility, one or more clinical messaging tools, and a team-level coordination layer. CAREFUL is the team-level layer — the platform that sits closest to clinical work and answers the questions clinicians ask in real time, in any care setting.
| Layer | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| System and regional data | ICS-wide flow, elective recovery, command-centre dashboards | System-level data platforms; ICS command centres |
| Core EPR with built-in coordination | Records and basic care management | Major enterprise EPRs |
| Team-level coordination across settings | Real-time actions, handovers, referrals, secure messaging — across teams, settings and organisations | CAREFUL |
| Clinical messaging | Secure conversation between clinicians | Clinical messaging apps |
| Pathway and appointment coordination | Booking, outreach, specialty pathways | Appt Health; EPaCCS variants |
| Ambient documentation (AVT) | Documentation reduction at the consultation | Multiple ambient AI vendors |
Why NHS teams choose CAREFUL
It replaces tools you already know are unsafe. WhatsApp, bleeps, paper handover sheets and spreadsheets are workarounds. CAREFUL replaces them with structured, auditable, NHS-compliant coordination.
It complements your EPR. CAREFUL does not compete with your clinical record system. It fills the coordination gap — the actions, referrals and handovers that EPRs were not designed to manage.
It works across sites and organisations. Multi-site trusts, ICS partnerships and hospital-to-community transitions all require coordination across boundaries. CAREFUL supports this by design.
It saves clinician time. 30–60 minutes per doctor per shift at Withybush. That is time redirected from chasing information to treating patients.
Frequently asked questions
Is CAREFUL DTAC compliant?
Yes. CAREFUL meets all NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria. It is registered on the NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit, holds Cyber Essentials Plus certification, complies with DCB0129 clinical safety standards and is ICO registered (ZA249706). Full DTAC details →
What NHS trusts use CAREFUL?
CAREFUL is currently deployed at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Foundation Trust (live since January 2023), Hywel Dda University Health Board — Withybush General Hospital (18-month pilot), and Cardiff & Vale University Health Board — University Hospital of Wales (live since 2024).
How does CAREFUL complement the EPR?
CAREFUL does not compete with your clinical record system. It fills the coordination gap — the actions, referrals and handovers that EPRs were not designed to manage. The EPR records what happened; CAREFUL coordinates what happens next.