1 May 2025 – London
We’re proud to announce that Team Wilmslow has achieved an outstanding third place at the National NHS Clinical Hackathon Grand Final, held in London and hosted by world-leading quantum technology company Quantinuum.
After winning the regional hackathon hosted at Wilmslow Health Centre, our team went on to compete against 13 innovative NHS teams from across the UK — with some participants even travelling from as far as the Netherlands! The national final brought together NHS staff from every corner of the system, working together to solve real healthcare challenges through collaboration, creativity, and technology.
🛌 A Vision to Improve Children’s Lives
Team Wilmslow’s app — first conceived and prototyped in just one day — focuses on a common but under-recognised issue: obstructive sleep apnoea in children. This condition, often going undiagnosed for over a year, can lead to poor sleep, behavioural issues, and long-term developmental concerns.
The team’s AI-powered solution aims to:
- ✅ Identify children at risk of sleep apnoea earlier
- ⏱️ Reduce unnecessary delays in referrals and treatment
- 🏥 Help alleviate pressure on ENT departments
- 💙 Restore sleep, wellbeing, and quality of life for young patients
Following the local win, the team worked over several weeks to develop the app further for the national competition — where their innovation impressed the judges and secured them a share of the £25,000 prize fund to support ongoing development.
👩⚕️ Innovation from the Frontline
The NHS Clinical Hackathon is a grassroots initiative that brings together NHS staff — including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, admin teams, students and more — to identify and solve problems they encounter every day. It was co-created by Dr Amar Ahmed, GP at Wilmslow Health Centre and founding partner of the NHS Clinical AI and Quantum Hackathon.
“The Hackathon proves that you don’t need to be a software engineer to be an innovator,” said Dr Ahmed. “This is about unlocking the insight and compassion already within the NHS, and giving staff the space to create solutions that improve patient care.”
“It was a fantastic event, and an honour to represent Wilmslow Health Centre and the North West,” said Dr Ayaz Damani, team member and GP at Wilmslow. “Our team — a mix of primary and secondary care clinicians — has shown that innovation through collaboration is not only possible, but powerful.”
“Sleep apnoea in children is under-recognised and devastating for families,” added Mr Haroon Saeed, ENT Surgeon. “Our app offers a practical, scalable solution that can reduce suffering and restore health — it’s about giving children their energy and joy back.”
🙌 Meet Team Wilmslow
- Mr Haroon Saeed – ENT Surgeon, raised in Wilmslow
- Dr Ayaz Damani – GP, Wilmslow Health Centre
- Dr Azim Qadir – GP Registrar, Wilmslow Health Centre
- Miss Sadia Kwaja – Consultant ENT Surgeon, Manchester Foundation Trust
- Dr Iullio Irimescu – GP Registrar, Wilmslow Health Centre
- Dr Sushma Sekhar – GP Partner & Trainer, Stockbridge Village Health Centre, Knowsley
- Dr Rubika Rai – GP, Plymouth
- Abdul Aahad – Medical Student, Lancaster University
🔗 Learn More
You can watch Dr Amar Ahmed share more about the NHS Clinical Hackathon’s mission here:
📺 Watch the video
And to learn more about Quantinuum, the hosts of the national grand final, visit:
🌐 quantinuum.com
We’re incredibly proud of Team Wilmslow for showing what’s possible when compassion, collaboration and innovation come together in the NHS. 💙
